MP presses for new youth centre

5.36.42pm GMT Thu 26th Nov 2009

Norman Baker and Carolyn Lambert are campaigning for a new youth centre in Seaford.

Seaford MP Norman Baker has called for the county council to urgently invest in a new youth centre for the town.

Norman says: "Seaford desperately needs a new youth centre. When the Conservatives on East Sussex County Council took the decision to close Elm Court several years ago, they made no effort to replace it. All of the money raised from the sale of Elm Court must be spent on a new youth centre. The County Council must not profit from selling off youth services."

Lib Dem county councillor, Carolyn Lambert, who started the Young Mayor project for the town last year, raised the issue at full council in October. The Conservative administration's plan to refurbish Mercread Road Youth Centre, rather than building a new one has come under criticism from Lib Dem councillors who want to see better facilities and a more accessible venue than the Mercread Road site.

Carolyn says: "I am pressing the County Council to build a new youth centre, which could go on the Salts recreation ground. The proposed plan to refurbish Mercread Youth Centre does not offer good value for money. While Mercread Youth Centre provides a good community resource, the number of young people who are able to use it is limited. The centre on Mercread Road is on a quiet residential street and would not be suitable for use on Friday and Saturday evenings, when young people are most in need of somewhere to go. It is not clear that residents have been consulted on this, or that young people in Seaford have been asked what they want."

"Current youth services in Seaford are not reaching the most difficult to reach young people.

Voluntary organisations such as the Baptist Church are doing a great job of providing activities, the County Council must match this effort by providing a new youth centre."

The Lib Dems have collected hundreds of petition signatures from across the town calling for East Sussex County Council to invest any money made from the sale of Elm Court in a new youth centre. They will be presenting the petition at full council on 8th December.