Walsall Myplace youth facility resurrected after appeal to minister
Andy Hillier
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A 1.3m Myplace-funded youth facility in Walsall has been given the go-ahead after initial plans for a centre in the area were scrapped.
The facility will be based at Joseph Leckie Community Technology College and will provide a range of activities for young people as well as access to support services. The centre will eventually become the flagship of the borough’s new Integrated Young People’s Support Services.
Plans to develop the Myplace-funded initiative had been shelved in December following a review of projects by the Department for Education. But the council managed to overturn the decision after appealing directly to children’s minister Tim Loughton.
CYP Now reported in November 2009 that initial plans to develop a centre in Walsall were on hold because of fears over the centre’s long-term viability.
Council leader Mike Bird said: "I am absolutely thrilled that we have succeeded in bringing about this change of heart so we can deliver this much-needed centre of excellence for young people in Walsall.
"We now must ensure we respond swiftly to get the project back on track and open so it can deliver a full range of services to our youngsters."
