A CENTRE that gives youngsters a "fun, safe and attractive" place to meet friends, learn skills and enjoy activities could be heading to Colchester.

Councillor Phil Coleman wants to bring a Youth Zone to the town, using some of the £18.2 million funding recently received to help revive the borough post-Covid.

There are 15 Youth Zones across the country, run by the charity Onside with backing from the Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

They are for young people aged eight to 19, or 25 for those with a disability, but the nearest is in Barking.

The centres give youngsters somewhere to enjoy activities, learn skills and socialise in a safe way.

Mr Coleman, who represents Mile End, made a speech to the council's ruling cabinet on Wednesday.

He said: "It's something I'm fighting hard for and a project I firmly, passionately believe must come out of the £18m Government pot.

"This is the best hope of ever putting in place something that will benefit our young people for decades.

"At the moment, they have very little, if any, provision in the borough but now it's time to look to the future and the benefits of a Youth Zone.

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"Having one here would provide a safe place to meet friends and learn and enjoy activities, in the process developing self-esteem and confidence.

"It would support them academically, physically and mentally, gaining skills that set them up for the workplace and life.

"It will also give them improved skills, connecting them with businesses and jobs, as well as finding and developing new hobbies.

"After the year we've had, they need something to look forward to and it would show we're serious about our young people."

Mr Coleman, a PE teacher for more than 30 years, first mooted the idea two years ago and believes an ideal base could be the Vineyard Street or Britannia car parks, both set to be regenerated, or the area next to Firstsite.

"What's more important - a car park, housing or a Youth Zone?," added the former Colchester United footballer.

"This is about investing in our young people’s lives and futures and there's a powerful moral incentive.

"It would also attract additional income from footfall and spending, particularly at weekends when parents drop their children off and go shopping, paying to park their cars.

"There are massive gains and savings for the whole borough, including a reduction in anti-social behaviour and youth crime, a reduction in gangs, improved health and reduced obesity and an improvement of young people’s physical, social and mental well-being.

"If we don't act now, we'll regret it for a long time."