DESPITE the success of a youth officer and two outreach workers serving the Alcester area, councillors have expressed their concerns about the lack of provision for youngsters in the town, writes Helen Clarke.

But there is hope on the horizon with a planned facility at the Greig Centre.

At a town council meeting last Tuesday, councillors pointed out that in the past Alcester has had three youth clubs - which were closed down, boarded up and have never been used since.

But chairman of the Alcester Youth Project, District and County Councillor Susan Juned, said some form of youth forum would still be established at the Greig Centre.

Robert McCluskey, from the Community Education Service, said the Greig Centre facility would still go ahead but the ear-marked building, which has already been cleared, still needed to be made fit for use.

He said: "Once we have had a quote for the repairs, then we can start applying for funding to carry out the work.

"Susan Juned and myself have already had a meeting with relevant agencies, the outreach workers and youngsters.

"We discussed what difficulties there had been with similar youth facilities in the past and also had some excellent feedback on what youngsters want and need from such a facility.

"We will have more meetings like this in the future to make sure we provide something which is much needed in this area."

The proposed facility is one which Greig Centre manager Andy Mason said he still gave his full support to.

Mr Mason added: "This plan is something we at the Greig Centre would be very pleased to see happen.

"It fits in very well with the centre's objectives for providing facilities for young people."