Protesters outside Swale House

Charities and community groups took their anger to the streets over plans to oust them from Phoenix House.

A placard-waving group of about 50 patients, carers and volunteers marched through Sittingbourne this morning.

They set off from the centre chanting “save Phoenix House” - their base until February next year - and journeyed through the High Street to Swale council’s offices in East Street where a short demonstration took place.

Swale Community Centres, which has been operational at the centre in Central Avenue for 25 years, was served notice by Kent County Council on the tenancy of the building last September.

It meant about 50 groups and charities were faced with finding new premises.

Bob Watkinson, 71, chairman of Sittingbourne Art Association, which meets at the centre, was among those leading the public show of dissent.

He said: “The volunteers who look after carers; the people that are sick with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease - they need a home and Phoenix provides that.

“I’m just angry nobody seems to be doing anything about it."

• See Friday's Sittingbourne Messenger for more.