Sea cadets win reprieve

Sea Cadets who faced closure after a 12-fold increase in their rent have been given a reprieve.

It was feared the cadet unit at Blackheath would have to shut down after the peppercorn rent they paid for years was put up. But now Sandwell Council bosses have had a change of heart and told the group that their payments may be scrapped altogether.

"It's a huge relief," said group treasurer Josie Connor. "We are very pleased, it means our future is safe. We had a meeting with the council and they have said that we will continue to pay a peppercorn rent, if anything at all."

Group leaders recently spent £40,000 revamping part of their base, the Training Ship Albion, Birmingham Road.

It meant club doors were locked for several months and members had spent almost a year raising funds and applying for grants.

But on completion of the work, they were warned that the £280 a year they had paid would soar to £3,500.

Staffed by volunteers and with 25 cadets each paying £2 a week, Mrs Connor, aged 67, said they would have had no option but to close.

"It turns out now they are actually going to do quite a bit for us," added Mrs Connor, of Willow Heights, Cradley Heath.

"The fact is there is still more work to be done on the building and we need all the money we can get to do that.

"We thought the rent may go up after that but we've been told now that it won't.

"We are also getting some help to apply for some more grants so the future looks quite bright."

The Sea Cadets is a nationwide voluntary youth organisation, open to young people aged 12 to 18.

Sandwell regeneration chief Councillor Bob Badham said: "The Sea Cadets do great work with young people and we are keen to help them as much as we can.

"We are trying to further extend the assistance we give by granting them a new lease under the council's voluntary sector policy. The council's partnerships and housing directorate is looking into whether it can sponsor the group."