A PETERSFIELD youth group is asking that its plea for a piece of land for a new youth centre is re-considered.

The King’s Arms hopes Petersfield Town Council will give it land on The Avenue playing field for a building, which could cost millions.

When the council was asked previously to agree in principle to donate the land, it was suggested the trustees look at other options.

But after a fruitless search, it is hoped The Avenue proposal can be revisited.

The King’s Arms is currently in the Court Yard building in the Festival Hall car park, but the centre trustees say it is too old, too cold and leaks sometimes.

The owner also hopes to redevelop it, and will only lease it to the trustees for short periods.

This means they are unable to apply for grants to refurbish the building, or to provide long term services for youngsters.

Councillors are to hear a presentation from youth centre trustees at their meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 6.30pm in the Festival Hall council chamber.

They will hear that 17 sites in the town have been looked at, but most didn’t fit the bill.

Trustees hope that any new centre will be within a short walking distance of The Petersfield School (TPS), as the centre hopes to increase the work it does with pupils from the school.

A bid to buy Petersfield police station was rejected, and the building was sold to Petersfield Museum.

An offer to buy space on Tesco car park in The Causeway also failed.

A proposal to combine with the Festival for Young People group to provide a youth facility at Love Lane was also deemed unworkable, as it wouldn’t provide a safe space, say trustees, and ity would be too far from TPS.

The trustees hope to provide projects for pupils during the day and they would have to walk there and back to school between lessons.

It is also hoped that more help can be provided for vulnerable teenagers and so a new centre would have to be a secure building.

A King’s Arms spokesman said: “Our vision is for a purpose-built youth centre that is a legacy for Petersfield youth in a bespoke hub that they feel is safe, encouraging, and uplifting, but has longevity and will be there for them through their teenage years.

“The Avenue provides a secure environment which is close to TPS.

“It would be a fantastic resource and investment for Petersfield youth, having a greater impact on their lives.”