YOUNG people will miss out on much-needed leisure facilities across Test Valley after the Lottery Commission turned down a borough council bid for help to fund a £1.4m project for eight healthy living centres across the borough.

The borough's executive committee has criticised the funding refusal before unanimously supporting a scaled down version of the project.

They were told that the lottery bid had failed because planned activities did not appear to be outside mainstream provision for young people.

Now venues including those at Chilbolton, Broughton and north of Andover will be dropped from the plans.

Cllr Caroline Nokes, the executive member with responsibility for young people, said: "This is a classic case of the Government not backing up its supposed commitment to improve the quality of life for young people with real action.

"We have heard very often that they are committed to tackling obesity, substance misuse, sexual health issues and anti-social behaviour among the younger population.

Here they had an opportunity to contribute funding to a wonderful project in the Test Valley and yet they have failed to translate their words into action.

"If these issues were being addressed in mainstream provision we would not have the problems that we have seen in this area. We have had evidence of drug-taking, sports centres are beset by problems of under-age drinkers and 20 per cent of young people in the region are classified as over-weight. This cannot be viewed as acceptable and they are all areas the Government has identified as problems.

"The Government has refused to put its money where its mouth is and has effectively prevented us from having a network of centres across the borough. But if they aren't willing to contribute then at least we can give the kids increased facilities within our own means."

A plan will now go forward to the full council for an additional £38,700 to be included in the leisure services budget for next year and a further £2,000 from the existing capital grant budget for capital costs.

The sites originally earmarked for the project included Portway Youth Complex in Andover, village halls in Kimpton and Chilbolton, the sports pavilion in Broughton and another venue in the most northerly part of the borough.

Now just Romsey, Lockerley, Portway Youth Complex, Andover and Knightwood Leisure Centre at Valley Park will be developed.

The borough had already agr-eed £120,000 from the existing budget to allow adaptation of venues and £34,000 per year for five years for the salary and costs of the project co-ordinator.