KEMPSEY householders could face an increase in council tax if they want to keep their community centre for the use of local groups.

The parish council, which owns the former school building beside the A38, has abandoned plans to demolish it in response to a public outcry.

But members have heard that the parish precept, which is Kempsey's share of the council tax levy, would have to be raised by 12 per cent to cover maintenance costs.

Now they are to ask local people what future they want for the building, at a meeting in the centre on Monday evening at 7.30pm.

"After publicity in the newspaper and parish magazine, we have been more or less informed that the village wants us to keep it.

"They don't want it knocked down, but something has got to give," said David Harrison, at this week's parish council meeting.

"Either the local organisations have got to go, or people in the village have to put their hands in their pockets, because it is losing money."

Chairman Joy Clee said it was the only communal building in the parish funded by public precept.

"We enabled the others to get started and now they are self-supporting," she said.

The community centre, which houses a hairdressing salon, will soon accommodate the parish office and is also used by various community groups.

A proportion of the building could be let as a children's nursery and after-school club, but community centre chairman Mike Biddle, said there would still be a deficit.

Other options include selling land for housing and converting the former headmaster's house into flats.

Mr Biddle said the village was in danger of losing all its facilities, having already lost a hardware shop, newsagents and butcher's.

He suggested the parish council might be glad, in future, to own the community centre and the land around it.

"You might need to do some emergency rescue of services within the village," he said.

Parishioners unable to attend Monday night's meeting can make their views known to the parish office.

or any parish councillor.