A LOCAL MP has thrown his weight behind a campaign to stop the sale of a popular community centre.

Virendra Sharma, the Labour member for Ealing Southall, has written to Dara Singh, the chief executive of Ealing Council, to ask him to reconsider the sale of the Southall Community Centre, which is due to go through tomorrow.

Users fear they will be priced out of using the centre in Merrick Road if it is sold into private hands.

Mr Sharma said: "I have written to the chief executive to ask him to reconsider the sale and I am waiting on a response from him before we make our next move.

"If the centre is sold I want to know if the money will be kept in Southall to benefit the community and seek assurances from the new owners that it will be kept open for community users.

"Hopefully we will be able to put a stop to the sale so the council can take up a porpoer consultation with the people of Southall over what they want. At the moment it is a waiting game"

Campaigners have also started a new petition opposing the sale and gathered more than 400 signatures in the first 24 hours.

It will be presented to Mr Sharma and councillors.

Claire Vranch, a council spokesman, said: "The contracts are currently with the purchaser's solicitors and they are confident that they will exchange at the end of this week."