A CHURCH pastor has slammed Thames Water for putting land he wants to build a community centre on up for auction.

Robin Kane, pastor at Shalom Free Methodist Church, Abbey Barn Lane, High Wycombe said the firm should put the community before profit.

He said the church made an offer to the water firm but this had not been accepted.

Thames Water said it had received “no acceptable offers” and is required to get the best price.

Mr Kane said: “We are outraged about it. We just feel that they are not really concerned about the needs of the local people.

“We understand they want the best price for it but, at the same time, there is a tremendous need for the facility so it can be a hub for the community.”

He said the church intended the bid at the auction and was confident it would win it as planning laws state it must be used for “non-education and training centres”.


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The land was bought by Kennet Properties Ltd, a subsidiary of Thames Water, which got planning permission in 2005 for a children’s nursery.

Becky Johnson, spokesman for Thames Water, said: “Since 2008 the site has been actively marketed for disposal, however no acceptable offers have been received. “The company is required to achieve best value in their land disposals and have therefore decided to market the land for sale via an auction.”

The auction will be held by Savils in London on Monday (see link, right).

The news comes after residents and councillors spoke out over a plan for flats at the nearby Red Lion pub, for which a community facility is planned.

The facility at the London Road was not big enough they said (see link, right).