A Dundee councillor has said he fears Menzieshill residents could be priced out of using their own community centre if is transferred out of local authority control.
Construction on the £13.2 million community centre in Orleans Place is under way.
Lochee Labour councillor Michael Marra said he is concerned many community groups will find charges in the centre too expensive if it is run Leisure and Culture Dundee.
The arms-length organisation runs sports and arts venues in Dundee and the new community centre may be handed over to it to run when it is completed.
Dundee City Council stresses no decision has been made on its future but Mr Marra said he has been told council officers, rather than elected councillors will make the choice.
Mr Marra said: “The administration is trying to transfer the running of the new community facility out of community control and council staffing without any vote or discussion. To do so is entirely inappropriate.
“Senior officers have told me that the transfer will be made under delegated authority.
“We are talking about a multi-million pound facility the future of which is not up for discussion. No case has been made for the transfer and I am at a loss as to why it should go ahead at all.
“Previously there was a tax advantage to this kind of move but the SNP government’s sport tax put paid to that. The cost of renting a hall will double if the transfer goes ahead which will squeeze out many clubs and community groups.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said it is too early to say how the community centre will be managed, or by whom.
He said: “No decisions have been taken yet.”
Mr Marra also said he believes the opening of the centre could sound the death knell for the Lynch Centre, the only community facility in Charleston.
He said: “Local people are worried that adding the Menzieshill facility to the Leisure and Culture Dundee portfolio will, as night follows day, lead to the closure of the Lynch Centre.
“There has been a massive loss of community space in Menzieshill in recent years.
“Taking the new facility out of community control will be another loss and will exclude people on the basis of cost and, if the Lynch Centre then goes, on availability.
“To do all of this without any discussion or any democratic vote is scandalous.”
A spokesperson for Leisure & Culture Dundee said: “There are no plans to close Lynch Sports Centre.”
