A MOVE has been made to bring Prudhoe’s beloved youth centre under community control, after fears were raised for its future.

Local councillors and residents in the town were enraged last year when it was announced the town’s East Centre, run by the Northumberland County Council and which had been at the heart of the community for 52 years, was to be put up for sale.

The county council later backed down on the controversial decision after public opposition.

Prudhoe Town Council and Prudhoe Community Partnership have since brought in a consultant to carry out a feasibility study for the building.

And at a meeting of Prudhoe Town Council last Wednesday, the details of the report were received under a confidential item on the agenda – due to sensitive financial information.

During the meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to ask the county council to transfer the East Centre to the town council.

Chairman of the town council, Coun. Gerry Price, said the reasoning behind the decision was due to fears that it didn’t have a secure future under the county council.

He said: “The town council unanimously believes this is an opportunity to secure the youth service for the future and ensure it has a stable location so it can move forward.”

Councillors said they were shocked by the news that their annual £20,000 grant to the county council’s West Northumberland Youth Service had not been accepted for the financial year 2018-19. The organisation runs services at the East Centre.

Coun. Price said this, along with talk of a county council review of youth services generally, brought to the forefront concerns about the future of the youth centre.

Chairman of Prudhoe Community Partnership George Hepburn said: “We have experience of successfully developing and managing a community building at Spetchells Centre and were keen to be involved with East too, and so can only wish the town council well with this challenging project which is really important for the future of the town.”

A Northumberland County Council spokeswoman said the council was currently reviewing youth services across Northumberland.

“As part of the review we have discussed youth services in Prudhoe with the town council and other stakeholders and options for future delivery are being developed in conjunction with the town council.”

She added that until a solution had been found, the council’s current funding arrangements would remain in place.

Prudhoe Town Council said it has submitted its initial request for the asset transfer by email. A formal process will follow.