Lib Dem Council opens new skatepark youth centre

2.00.00pm GMT Sat 29th Mar 2008

New youth centre takes shape - Stephen Knight and Vince Cable visit during the building works.

The Lib Dem Council has converted a disused pavilion next to the skatepark at Kingsfield in Hampton Wick into a new youth centre and café.

Under a partnership agreement, Richmond Youth Partnership (RYP) will manage the new café and provide a qualified youth worker based on site. The building will provide a community facility, with a special focus on young people and the popular skatepark nearby. It features an outside seating area and an additional room for community use. Young people were instrumental in the development, raising some of the funds for the refurbishment and joining the steering group.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council, said:

"The café is a superb new facility for the whole community, and I am delighted that young people using the popular skatepark will now have a safe and inviting place hang out.

"The project underlines the Council's commitment to provide more facilities for young people locally - one of our major priorities."