A LAST minute plea to rethink dropping funding for a state-of-the-art youth centre in Colchester fell on deaf ears.
The We Are Colchester partnership's board has agreed to drop £2.1 million funding towards creating an OnSide Youth Zone in the town from its spending priorities for the Government's Town Deal cash.
Colchester Council's cabinet discussed the priorities at a meeting on Wednesday, where teacher Phil Coleman (Lib Dem, Mile End), who brought the idea to the authority two-years-ago, urged the cabinet to go back to the board to fight for the proposals.
He said: "It’s an amazing facility that changes young peoples lives.
"A facility that gives young people the opportunity to meet others in a safe place, to learn new skills, to be supported, where they gain confidence and self esteem.
"The police, health organisations and many other organisations support them.
"Youth Zones impact positively in so many other ways. The impact on a town is significant including increased footfall and spending.
"Therefore I ask this cabinet to reconsider the Town Fund deal allocation and find a way to ensure the young people of this borough get a Youth Zone, that they deserve, and for generations to come."
Conservative leader of the council Paul Dundas said the council didn't have the power to change the decision of the board, which he sits on.
He said: "The town deal board had to look at the deliverability of each project and how realistic it was to bring them forward in a short space of time to be able to go to the Government and say yes we can do it now and draw down on the money.
"The reality is the previous administration had not found a site - I know Britannia had been discussed but they had taken it off the table due to car parking revenue and heritage issues.
"At this moment in time there is not a site agreed which is suitable for a Youth Zone in Colchester - that is a simple fact."
Mr Dundas added the council would also need to find £500,000 per year to keep the Youth Zone running.
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Following the meeting, former leader of the council Mark Cory (Lib Dem, Wivenhoe) hit out at the new Tory-led administration and said funding was in place to deliver the project.
He said site options included the Britannia car park, Leisure World and Colchester Institute.
Mr Cory said: "Paul Dundas and Will Quince [Conservative MP], like we did previously, could have secured the £2.1 million to remain allocated for the Youth Zone to enable its delivery.
"The failure to do so shows a lack of political will and sees the Youth Zone get side-lined.
"Keeping the money for the Youth Zone was entirely possible, the new Conservative administration has let us down and let the young people of Colchester down.
"I am to ‘call-in’ in this decision, this is our last chance to save the fantastic project from the Tory Council dustbin."
At the meeting Mr Dundas said the council would be happy to work with other parties to find alternative sources of funding to create a Youth Zone.
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