AMBITIOUS plans to build a community centre in Petersfield are unlikely to succeed if backing and finances can’t be secured.

That’s the message councillors have delivered to the chairman of a Petersfield-based group as frustrations grow over the progress of two milestone projects.

Nigel Wells asked the Petersfield Town Development Committee (TDC) for an update on plans to extend the skatepark and build a new community centre at Love Lane last Friday.

The Festival For Young People (FFYP) chairman asked for clarification on who is responsible for developing the schemes, which both appear in the Neighbourhood Plan, and sought assurances that the committee supports their proposals.

He also said “shame on you” to members after receiving an e-mail from a TDC member that suggested a disabled-friendly skatepark should be built in Alton, instead of Petersfield, because the FFYP had consulted with Treloars College.

Around a dozen youngsters attended the meeting in support of the FFYP, which has secured around £12,500 in funding for the skatepark extension.

Mr Wells said: “These young people are here today to support the ideas for phase two and to welcome a design to extend the current skating area in such a way as to make it suitable for wheelchair users, disabled people and young children.

“Yes, planning permission has expired and the design needs to be revisited but we wish to work with the TDC in a spirit of co-operation, not an atmosphere of conflict.”

Mr Wells also asked members if they had considered moving and expanding some of the facilities at the town hall and existing community centre into the proposed community building.

The FFYP chairman decided to address the TDC as he claimed a town council officer had sent Mr Wells an e-mail on behalf of the committee. But that was not the case with both town clerk Neil Hitch and councillor Jamie Matthews pointing out that the TDC is separate to the town council.

Councillor Matthews also stressed to Mr Wells that the Neighbourhood Plan is only a planning document and not a blueprint for the town council to deliver. Councillor Arun Glendigging also noted the big discrepancy between the income the current centre generates and the cost of the proposed building.

He said: “While it’s in the Neighbourhood Plan the town council fully supports a community facility on that site but we’ve seen no robust financial or business plan models that will support the scheme the FFYP have put forward.”

Mr Hitch added: “There’s also no support from the trustees of the community centre, to my knowledge, and if that’s the case the chances of getting a new community centre are remote.”