THE FUTURE of Longridge youth centre has been secured after councillors voted to extend the lease on the Berry Lane building.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s policy and finance committee voted to negotiate a new long term lease for the Towneley building, as well as providing nearly £18,000 funding to make vital external repairs.

The move secures the future of the Longridge youth club, which had been faced with the prospect of moving to the civic hall.

The building, which is the former fire station, is owned by the borough council but is leased to Lancashire County Council youth services.

Coun Ken Hind said: “Securing the future of the Longridge youth centre and improving the building has been a priority for the Longridge community contained in the community plan 'the Longridge way’.

“In meetings involving youth service senior management, users of the youth centre with Longridge councillors, it was made clear to us that Lancashire youth service and the 300 young people who use the centre, which is open seven days a week, wanted to remain in the building.

“The option of moving the youth centre to the civic hall is not available as it would involve a long term solution, obtaining funds to design and build a purpose built extension which would take too long.

“We wanted to avoid any break in the work of the youth centre.”

There are now additional plans to improve the interior of the building and attempts are to be made to secure a grant from the county council.

Coun Hind said: “The young people representing the diverse groups which who use the youth centre came to the committee and eloquently put their case for the retention of the youth centre.

“The interior of the building has been designed and decorated by the young people themselves and they have further plans for it's improvement.

“This is an essential part of Longridge community life which cannot be allowed to end.

“It educates, stimulates and encourages young people to make constructive use of their spare time as it has done for many years, and as a consequence of this decision it is anticipated it will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.”