Eastleigh Borough Council in partnership with Hampshire County Council Children’s Services are working together on a scheme to develop a new youth facility at the Leigh Ballroom site in Leigh Road.
The cost of the scheme will be around £580,000 that has largely been provided by Eastleigh Borough Council. However a significant amount of funding has been secured through the efforts of a group of local young people who submitted a proposal to Hampshire County Council’s Youth Opportunities Fund and successfully obtained a grant of £100,000. The centre would be managed by local youth workers funded by Hampshire County Council.
The proposal for the building will include a major repair and refurbishment scheme. It is planned to keep the main hall to allow for a range of activities to take place. Other facilities will include a refreshment area, a space to meet and socialise with friends, pool table, together with meeting/interview rooms and an Internet area. On site services will include informal drop in’s to offer information such as careers advice and counselling etc.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Keith House says “The need for a youth facility in the town centre has long been acknowledged and this is an exciting scheme that will provide a much-needed youth facility for the town centre. The Council is committed to providing facilities for young people and, if approved, we will look forward to working with the community to provide an excellent venue for youngsters to enjoy”
The planning application is set to go the Eastleigh Local Area Committee meeting on 19 January 2010. If successful it is hoped that the new facility will be ready for use in Autumn 2010.
The current tenants will be vacating the Leigh Road site in January 2010 and will continue their business at new premises.