A CHARITY in Holsworthy which brings men together to help their mental health has been given an annual rent reduction on its new premises of nearly £4,000.

Torridge District Council agreed that the Holsworthy Men’s Shed could pay £600 a year instead of £4,570 as the unit at Dobles Lane Industrial Estate needs work and the charity is an asset to the community.

The Men’s Shed movement, which originated in Australia, formed in the UK in 2013 and the Holsworthy group was set up three years later. It has 44 members.

As well as being a place to meet new friends, members turn their hands to woodworking, metal working and repairing and restoring discarded furniture and electrical items.

Men’s Shed has been recognised for its work in reducing loneliness and isolation, especially for men over 50.

The council’s community and resources committee heard that the group had to vacate a smaller premises in Well Park, for which it paid £50 a month, and moved into a council-owned unit at Dobles Lane so it could continue to operate.

It took a three-year lease but hoped that the council would reduce the rent given that the building needed work.

Council leader Ken James (Ind, Milton and Tamarside), who was allowed to speak at the meeting but not vote because he is a member of the Men’s Shed, said the building is “in pretty dire straits” and had not been used for seven years.

“We still have problems with the roof leaking, when it leaks we have to get the buckets out,” he said.

The council’s head of communities and place, Sean Kearney, said the industrial units in that area had not been used on a commercial basis for some time because of energy efficiency regulations, but the authority had recently changed its mind.

“We think they are okay to let now, but are quite old. We haven’t maintained them because they are mostly empty,” he said.

He added that the roof is unlikely to be replaced, but instead patched-up and he expected Men’s Shed would probably work to improve the unit.

Cllr Jane Whittaker (Con, Northam) said Men’s Shed is amazing organisation, with groups all over the country. “We should cherish the ones we have,” she said. “It’s a community asset and helps social isolation and mental health issues.”

Cllr Lyndon Piper (Lib Dem, Holworthy) said the roof is of a fairly simple construction and the group could “probably do the best they could with it”.

He said the members were entrepreneurial, making the organisation quite sustainable. They would also inject some life into a tired part of the industrial estate.

“This is an investment from Torridge, Men’s Shed do their best to manage the running costs which are not insignificant.” he said.

The committee agreed to charge rent of £600 a year.

Alison Stephenson