Morning:
20°c
Secret deal hatched by News of the World to hush up details of phone-tapping was sealed in a tiny room at the Royal Courts of Justice
More...
Cancer centre empty for 15 months
Anna Davis21.10.08
A NEW centre for breast cancer sufferers has stood empty for more than a year because of an argument over who owns it.
Fundraisers are furious that the Primrose Centre, completed in July last year, still cannot be put to use because of a dispute over rent.
The building, a former chapel near Farnborough originally owned by Bromley Hospitals NHS trust, was bought by property developer Barratts and donated to charity for use as a breast cancer centre.
Volunteers raised more than £500,000 to convert the building and fitted it with around £100,000 worth of furniture donated by high street shops. The Caron Keating Foundation , set up after the TV presenter died of breast cancer four years ago aged 41, also funded a room in her name.
But charity workers say they cannot use the building as the hospital will not hand them the deeds, and instead wants to charge them £40,000 a year rent for using it.
Mary Spinks, director of the Primrose Centre, said: "Breast cancer sufferers and their families and friends have to do without the centre that was paid for through our fund-raising. Barratts paid the full agreed sum for the building and land on the understanding it would pass to the charity."
She added: "It's an absolute disgrace that the new management at Bromley Hospitals NHS trust should have gone back on an agreement struck six years ago."
A spokeswoman for the trust insisted the building does not belong to the charity.
She added: "Bromley Hospitals NHS trust owns the freehold of the building, therefore lease arrangements need to be agreed before use."
Reader views (2)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Isn't this just typical British. Greedy greedy greedy. Nothing surprises me.
- Disgusted Canadian, Canada
>>The building, a former chapel near Farnborough originally owned by Bromley Hospitals NHS trust, was bought by property developer Barratts and donated to charity for use as a breast cancer centre
>>"Bromley Hospitals NHS trust owns the freehold of the building, therefore lease arrangements need to be agreed before use.
Obviously they don't.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
