Malton MP joins fight to keep Pickering’s Hungate Centre for the community

It was originally built and paid for by local people before being handed over to the WRVS, later to become RVS (Royal Voluntary Service) to manage and look after. In March 2020 RVS announced that it was to close and be sold off.

Mr Hollinrake said: “The centre has been an important community asset, originally provided by local residents for their own use, and has been used by a range of local groups as well as RVS lunches and there is no question that it should remain available to them. The RVS were custodians of the site. If it has no further use for it, the centre should be given back to the community.

“Once the pandemic is over the centre will have an even more important role to play as people are able to get out and meet again in groups.”

Mr Hollinrake was meeting with RVS and other stakeholders virtually to make his position clear.

More than 1,400 signatures have been collected in an online petition by local residents and people living further afield in the support of the centre.