PLANS to redevelop a prominent Prudhoe building are on track.

A meeting of the Prudhoe Community Partnership (PCP) heard how work is continuing on plans for the East Centre on the town's Front Street.

It follows public consultation earlier this year on the site formerly used by youth groups.

The PCP is working with interested parties to transform the site after the Northumberland County Council-owned building was deemed unsafe to use.

Plans for the site centre around a new, purpose-built youth hub with community use, and supported living, while retaining some of the former Victorian school and adult learning centre's important, local history. It is also hoped there will be outdoor space.

The site was described as a gateway to the town and often the first thing visitors see coming in.

The meeting heard a survey on the building would need to be commissioned before further consultation work was carried out and that additional funding would need to be secured.

The PCP, who is working with the Rural Design Centre and Mosedale Gillatt Architects Ltd, hope to then secure the building via community asset transfer from the authority.

It comes after the East Centre was put up for sale by Northumberland County Council in 2017 but was reversed after public outcry.

The meeting also heard plans to install a community bandstand in the town or an outdoor performance space.

The idea was put forward by local musician Caroline Guirr, who was instrumental in Prudhoe's first Music by the Riverside.

Proposed locations included The Glade, Prudhoe riverside or Eastwoods Park. 

Speaking after the meeting, George Hepburn, former chair of PCP trustees, told the Courant a covenant is still needed to be lifted on the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in West Wylam, where plans have been drawn up for five apartments to be run by Karbon Homes.

West-Wylam-based charity the Miner's Lamp launched a fundraising campaign with the view of creating a new, community hub on the site when it went up for sale.

It followed a petition by Prudhoe Town Councillor Russ Greig, also a trustee of the charity, to 'save' the building from development.