TALKS are to be held between Studley High School and the parish council in a bid to set up a youth club for the village’s youngsters.
Following cutbacks at county level the village has been without a youth club and the ‘Studley Centre’ building – valued at £250,000 by County Hall – has been lying unused.
The initiative with the school comes after parish vicar Reverend David Silvester launched a bid for the Church to take the centre over to provide a youth club and cafe – but this fell foul of local sentiment when it was discovered the parish centre would have to be sold to pay for it.
And last Tuesday, with the county council keen to off-load the building, the question was asked – did the parish want to take the Studley Centre on?
“We have either to decide if it’s a project we are willing to take on or do we make the decision that it’s something we do not have the resources or money to do so and we let whatever happens to the building run its course,” said chairman Paul Beaman.
Members heard that even with the maximum Big Lottery grant – £100,000 – the council would still be well short of the money required.
In addition they heard only 10 to 12 children used the old youth club regularly while running costs of the Studley Centre could add up to £50,000 a year.
Alternatives were available too in the shape of a travelling weekly ‘Youth Bus’ for 11-17 year olds while Lee Grey, headteacher at Studley High has indicated they had a building free which could fit the bill.
Councillors agreed to write to the county council saying the Studley centre was something they were not prepared to take on.
