Plans for £4m youth zone in Chorley approved

Youngsters in Chorley may have their '˜lives changed' after plans for a £4m youth centre were approved.
Gwynne Furlong (Chairman of the Arts Partnership and Inspire Youth Zone board member), Michelle Graham (Arts/Inspire Youth Worker), Andrew Turner (Chairman of Chorley Group and Inspire Youth Zone), Wayne Carter (OnSide Youth Zones Young Peoples Engagement Worker), Dr Mark Ward (OnSide Youth Zones Project Director and Inspire Board Member), Young people (Inspire Youth Zone Young Peoples Development Group).Gwynne Furlong (Chairman of the Arts Partnership and Inspire Youth Zone board member), Michelle Graham (Arts/Inspire Youth Worker), Andrew Turner (Chairman of Chorley Group and Inspire Youth Zone), Wayne Carter (OnSide Youth Zones Young Peoples Engagement Worker), Dr Mark Ward (OnSide Youth Zones Project Director and Inspire Board Member), Young people (Inspire Youth Zone Young Peoples Development Group).
Gwynne Furlong (Chairman of the Arts Partnership and Inspire Youth Zone board member), Michelle Graham (Arts/Inspire Youth Worker), Andrew Turner (Chairman of Chorley Group and Inspire Youth Zone), Wayne Carter (OnSide Youth Zones Young Peoples Engagement Worker), Dr Mark Ward (OnSide Youth Zones Project Director and Inspire Board Member), Young people (Inspire Youth Zone Young Peoples Development Group).

The ‘Inspire’ Chorley Youth Zone is to be built on Railway Street in the centre of town, after plans were approved by Chorley Council last week.

Bosses for the youth zone say the facility, costing £4.3million to build, will allow young people to ‘reach their full potential’, ‘grow their dreams’ and ‘achieve their goals’ through a variety of activities.

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Andy Turner, chairman of the youth zone, is ‘delighted’ the plans were approved.

He said: “The potential the youth zone has for the whole town and its future generations is unprecedented – it will change the lives of thousands of young people.

“The young people of Chorley want and need this facility.”

Expected to open in 2017, the youth zone will offer up to 20 activities every evening for people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability.

These activities will include dancing, sport, art, music and media, and will cost people 50p per visit.

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Coun Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said: “The opportunities it will offer young people from sports to media, arts and preparing for work are hugely exciting.

“Not only will it offer a safe and inspiring place for young people to meet, the Youth Zone will play an important part in helping to raise young people’s aspirations, provide jobs, and help them achieve their true potential.

“The project will benefit the whole town and we look forward to seeing it take shape.”

Construction work is due to start later this year.