A VOLUNTEER group says it has renewed hope of continuing to run Penningtons Tea Room.

Friends of Pennington Hall Park (FoPHP) announced last week that the popular community hub is closing next Sunday, June 4.

But chair Trisha Taylor has since held discussions with Wigan Council and is now hopeful of a community asset transfer being agreed.

She said: "We do want to keep running the cafe and to come to an agreement with the council.

"We have now had discussions with the council and agreed to meet up to talk everything through and try to resolve the matter.

"We just need to agree a date that is convenient for both parties to meet up.

"As things stand though we are planning to close next Sunday.

"Hopefully we can come to an agreement with the council and that will change."

FoPHP was given a five-year lease on the building when it first opened in June 2014.

But the council announced in November that it was making Pennington Hall Park's cafe available for a community asset transfer as it could no longer afford to subsidise its running and maintenance costs.

FoPHP claims the council served it a six-month eviction notice in January while the group was in the process of applying to take over the ownership of the building via a community asset transfer.

Trish added: "My husband George and I have put £18,000 of our own money into Penningtons Tea Room and many people have told us it is one of the best things to happen to Leigh in years.

"All the volunteers in the group have worked so hard for the park and the cafe and events we run mean a lot to so many people.

"We have always had the community at heart and the money we raise at the cafe gets ploughed back into the park for events.

"Our eviction date is July 25 but if we are to leave we will be closing the cafe next Sunday to give us time to move all our goods out of the premises before being evicted."

Any community or volunteer group could apply for the community asset transfer but the council says it wants FoPHP to continue running the cafe.

Deputy chief executive Paul McKevitt said: “Wigan Council wants to work with the community and ensure Penningtons Tea Room remains open to the public.

“Through The Deal a number of assets have been transferred to community groups and it has worked very successfully.

“We are keen for the group's community asset transfer to take place.”

Lowton East Cllr James Grundy said: “I have been informed by the council that it does not want to see the cafe closed and is willing to sign off on an agreement with the volunteers.

“I think the Friends of Pennington Hall Park group is willing to find an agreement with the council too.

“Hopefully the issue will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.”

FOPHP was formed in 2006 to improve Pennington Hall Park and its facilities.