We’ll fight your corner - that’s the message from Swale to voluntary and community groups who face eviction from Phoenix House.

Despite their political differences, cross party members agreed the council will continue to do all it can to persuade KCC to extend the lease on the building for users.

The motion was put forward by Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab) when the council met at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, last week.

During his speech he described KCC’s plans to leave more than 50 groups and charities without new premises when the lease on the building runs out next February as “mean and pathetic”.

He said: “They’ve got nowhere else to go. But it’s not a racketeering or profiteering landlord doing this, it’s the KCC.

“There’s lots and lots of people who will suffer. It’s cynical, unacceptable and deplorable.”

Swale Community Centres, which has been operating the facility in Central Avenue for more than 25 years, was served notice on the tenancy of the building last September.

“At the same time it was told its grant funding would stop.

The decision meant it had less than five months to find a new meeting place as the lease was due to end.

KCC said the move was prompted because the building forms part of Spirit of Sittingbourne’s redevelopment plans for the town.

However, when the lease ends, the premises is earmarked as a temporary base for the Sittingbourne Adult Education Centre, as its College Road premises is no longer fit for purpose.

After extensive media coverage, KCC eventually backtracked and extended the lease until next February.

Its grant funding was also reinstated.

Council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Cons) said: “It’s an important issue, it’s vital, there needs to be a resolution and the camouflage that’s been put up, the smoke screen about the Spirit of Sittingbourne, is an absolute nonsense.”

Cllr Mike Whiting (Cons), who suggested letting the groups use office space at Swale House if they are kicked out, said: “It seems to me that KCC is not in a position to move their further education colleagues in to Phoenix House yet so to evict the users is wholly premature.

“If and when they are ready to move them in then it’s a discussion we need to have again.”

The news has been welcomed by Phoenix House manager Sara Seabridge.

She said: “I’m over the moon about it, it’s brilliant. It’s what we needed and I think it’s made people that use the centre a lot more happier about it in terms of they felt they were being ignored.

“We will send all the councillors a list of all the groups that use the centre and invite them to pop in and have a look around and get a feel for the place because I don’t think they really know anything about Phoenix House other than it’s the big black building in Central Avenue.”

Mrs Seabridge along with members of the Phoenix House Service Users Action Group are due to meet with Paul Carter, leader of KCC, at County Hall, Maidstone, between 9am and 10am on November 7.

It is a chance for them to hand over more than 800 signed letters opposing the plans and explain why they should remain at the centre.

She added: “We feel a bit more positive that he’s agreed to meet with us.”