Campaigners have pledged they will not give up the fight for Norwich's Wensum Lodge, after council leaders agreed to close it and potentially sell it off.
The Conservative-controlled cabinet at Norfolk County Council has agreed to cease adult learning services at the King Street building, saying it is "no longer fit for purpose".
Councillors also agreed, at a meeting on Monday (July 3) to declare the building surplus to the council's requirements - paving the way for it to be sold.
But campaigners have pledged to fight for the building's future, which comes just a few years after the authority was talking about a £20m revamp of the centre.
However, the county council says the world has moved on since then. They say the centre, which has focused on adult learning courses since the 1960s, is no longer the appropriate place to base them.
Margaret Dewsbury, the council's cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "It is now obvious it no longer provides the sort of accessibility of courses needed and it is time to move out altogether."
She said courses would be run at other venues and online.
Bill Borrett, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said the building was "no longer fit for purpose", but that the authority remained committed to adult learning.
He said: "I am sure a new use will be found which is just as exciting and respectful, but the most important thing is that the service is going to continue."
A Jewish heritage group has launched a bid to take over part of Wensum Lodge to use as a museum to highlight Norwich's dark past as a birthplace of antisemitism.
Their idea is to turn Music House, also called Jurnet’s House, into the focal point of a heritage centre, museum, and place to study contemporary and historic antisemitism.
The Music House is part of the Wensum Lodge complex, but is actually owned by the city, rather than the county council, although the group is keen to use more of the site.
Labour and the Greens, who have both started petitions about the centre, are trying to get the building declared as an 'asset of community value'.
That would give the community six months to come up with alternative uses for the site before the county council can sell it on the open market.
Andrew Jamieson, the council's cabinet member for finance, made reference to the heritage group's hopes and described it as a "serious proposal".
He said he had made clear to council chiefs to "look at disposal in the widest possible complex".
But Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council, said that did not go far enough.
He said: "It's clear there are options for Wensum Lodge that haven't been explored.
"The decision of cabinet instead sets the scene for conflict rather than consensus.
"The backlash and anger will turn what should have been an opportunity into a shambles."
Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at the council, said: "Today does not stop the fight to keep Wensum Lodge open. The Conservatives can expect growing public anger and backlash.
"The Tories are kidding themselves if they believe smaller facilities can cater for growing future demand."
Ben Price, Green group leader, who joined protesters outside County Hall before the meeting, said: "Today's cabinet decision is very disappointing, but we will fight it.
"My petition has over 3,300 signatures in only a week and, once it hits 5,000, then the county council must debate it in public.
"I urge everyone to sign and share it, so we can have a proper discussion about the future of this historical gem."
Some Wensum Lodge courses will continue to the end of this year, but the council will shut the building early next year.
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