PLANS to hive off a popular community hub that is offering free Christmas Day dinner for the elderly have been condemned by angry residents.

Wigan Council admits Penningtons Tea Room has established itself as 'a wonderful café and a real hub of the community' since being set up by the Friends of Pennington Hall Park.

But despite the group of volunteers who run the café claiming to have been given a five-year lease on the building when it opened in June 2014, the council says it can no longer afford to pay for the utilities and maintenance of Penningtons Tea Room and intends to sell or lease it through a community asset transfer within the next six months.

The move puts the future of Pennington Hall Park's café and the many community events held there – including the free Christmas dinners to prevent people from being alone on the big day – in jeopardy.

More than 2,000 people have signed an online petition to 'save' the community hub.

But the council has reassured residents that it has no plans to close the café.

Penny McGinty, assistant director for leisure and property at the council, said: “Penningtons Tea Room is a wonderful café and a real hub of the community, which is why we are not closing it.

“At the moment the council is financially supporting the café in a number of ways by paying for the utilities and maintenance of the building.

"We would like to see the community group take responsibility for this, using the money they get from the tea room.

"We have met with the group to make them aware and go through their options.

"They will be able to bid for a community asset transfer, but unfortunately they seem to be opposing the process rather than engaging in it.

“The council has not issued the friends with a six-month notice, nor are we planning to close the café.

"But with £60 million to save we can no longer afford to subsidise buildings like this, which is why we have opened it up to an asset transfer.”

FOPHP chair Trish Taylor and her husband George claim to have spent £18,000 of their own money in turning what was a rundown building into the park's heart and soul.

Trish said: "The coffee machine alone was more than £5,000.

"Along with new windows and shutters, Penningtons Tea Room would never have opened without our personal investment.

"This was not a project we grew, supported and funded out of commercial enterprise.

"We know Penningtons Tea Room is not a viable business proposition, it is is supported out of passion, community provision and love.”

Gill Wood, a spokesperson for FOPHP, which was formed in 2006 to improve Pennington Hall Park and its facilities, added: "When Penningtons Tea Room opened its doors the community had a wonderful, inviting place to visit.

"They had a park to be proud of once again – a clean, multi-function area for families of all ages.

"Free events there ranging from seasonal activities, such as pumpkin carving and Santa visits, to large commemorative events have drawn large crowds and great publicity."

Residents have urged FOPHP via social media to fight the council's decision to try to cut its ties with the café through a community asset transfer, which sees the management and/or ownership of public land or buildings pass to a community organisation for less than its market value to achieve a local social, economic or environmental benefit.

Alan Prescott said: "You should fight these people."

Lavinia Robson posted: "The volunteers do so much for our community, both young and old.

"It is so much more than a tea room. I am proud to have them in our beautiful park."

Christine Niknejad added: "Wigan Council should be ashamed of itself. What a way to thank Trish and George for their wonderful hard work in turning this place around.

"The community spirit in this park is unequalled. I am new to Leigh and love this café and park."

To sign the 'save' Penningtons Tea Room petition visit bit.ly/2ftANgV.