THE GROUP driving forward the plans for the community building proposed for Love Lane in Petersfield has already had one successful project in the town.

The Festival For Young People developed the concept and plans for the skatepark at Love Lane and raised the money to ensure the project could go ahead.

Now members have picked up the challenge to create a new community and youth centre for the town – and they want as many people as possible to come forward with ideas and comments.

Nigel Wells said:?“The Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan includes the provision of a community centre on Love Lane.

“What we are trying to do now is provide a platform on which ideas and then plans for the new centre can be developed, so eventually we can reach the point of looking at the feasibility of what people want to see included, submitting a planning application and raising the money we will need to get the centre off the ground.”

Progress made so far on the project includes the drawings and graphics produced by Petersfield architects Re-Format. These are not an indication of what the final layout for the centre will be – they are purely providing a starting point for debate and suggestions and to get the public’s imaginations working as to what could be possible.

A group it is hoped will come on board with the project is the one which runs the town’s current community centre located at the Ramshill end of Love Lane.

Chairman of the Festival for Young People Roger Parkes said: “Ideally, once the new centre is built we hope the existing Petersfield Community Association will move up Love Lane and take over the running of the new facility in accordance with their declared objective to serve the community. This conforms with the Neighbourhood Plan and will provide valuable long term continuity for our expanding town.”