PLANS to clear a disused youth club in Wickham are being pushed through after fears it was becoming an eyesore in the village.

The temporary building that has been used as a youth club by teenagers for the past 12 years was ordered to close its doors during the summer for safety reasons.

Hampshire youth workers who visited the centre on Mill Lane refused to work there because of its dilapidated state and now see young people in their temporary home at the village community centre.

However, the building is becoming an eyesore in the village prompting the move to have it removed. According to parish councillor Sue Roger Jones that could cost up to £5,000.

She said: "The situation is that it needs to be cleared. Quite frankly it is becoming an eyesore and on top of that people have started to loiter about there so it is best it gets cleared away as soon as possible.

"Due to the specialist nature of the job and because of tipping charges to dispose of the building we have had quotes ranging from £2,500 to £5,000 to actually get rid of it."

Cllr Roger Jones will be requesting the money from the parish council when it meets next week as a matter of urgency.

Plans are still under way for a permanent replacement on the site to cater for young people.

Leisure bosses are drawing up plans to open the centre up as a family learning centre that could accommodate anything from early years meetings right through to teenagers.

Cllr Roger Jones said: "I have been spending a great deal of my time drumming up fundraising for this project. What we want is a facility that can cater for youngsters right from nought to 19 years old."

If all goes to plan the new centre should be open within the next three years.