PARISH leaders in the New Forest have been forced to scrap plans to build a youth centre on a former landfill site.

Unforeseen legal costs of £30,000 mean those behind the project are now looking for a new location for the £133,000 project.

It has come as a huge disappointment to supporters of the scheme who have been trying to find a suitable site for the youth centre for seven years.

Marchwood Parish Council had wanted to build the centre on Cork Field, next to a skatepark and BMX track created for village youngsters in the past two years.

Councillors have been forced to go back to the drawing board because a new environmental law means all former landfill sites must be surveyed before building work can go ahead. The checks would cost £30,000, parish councillors have been told.

Council chairman Darryl Hindle said members had been searching for a suitable location for the youth centre for seven years.

He said: "We've tried and we've been knocked back and we've tried again and we've been knocked back.

"We actually thought we had solved it this time but we've had to go back to the drawing board."

Councillor Alan Shotter added: "Cork Field is dead and buried."

Members heard how alternative sites for the long awaited youth centre were already being considered.

Cllr Alison Hoare urged officers to reveal the new sites and include the public in the deliberations.

A spokesman said the public would be consulted as soon as any of the sites had been deemed suitable.

The Daily Echo reported last month how teenagers had been invited to help design the centre.

Funding for the project has come from an £85,000 grant from New Forest District Council plus £48,000 from developers' contributions.