EXPRESS CAMPAIGN: Youth centre to reopen

A new regular Lewes youth club will take place every Monday at Landport Youth Centre and it is hoped more will follow in the future.

Four part-time paid youth workers will run the youth club for ages 11 to 19. The opening night is February 11.

Debbie Twitchen, chairwoman of Landport Residents Association, said: 'It's excellent news.

'It's great that we've got a date to tell the young people on the estate because they've been very keen to find out when something was happening.

'I think they were a little bit disappointed it's only one night a week but hopefully once it's up and running and well used we'll be able to extend that.'

On the opening night young people on the estate can look forward to music and Djing, sports activities and also a consultation to find out what they want from the youth club.

Jaan Madden, a youth development worker from East Sussex County Council, said: 'Everyone we've spoken to on the estate seems really excited about what's planned.

'It's taken a lot of time and effort to get everything together and the sessions will take place every Monday 6pm - 8pm.

'Once we see who's coming and who's using the centre we can hopefully look for some more funding to open the club on another evening, and perhaps have separate junior and senior evenings.'

The centre, which was formerly known as the Landport Boys Club, was closed in 2006 but residents and young people on the estate have spent the past nine months campaigning for it to be reopened.

Sussex Clubs for Young People, the owner of the building, has worked with residents and paid for repairs to renovate the club.