CULLOMPTON Town Clerk Judy Morris is urging people to throw their support behind an initiative to get youth sessions up and running in the town.

A public meeting is being held at the John Tallack Youth and Community Centre in Meadow Lane, Cullompton on Monday, December 15 at 7pm to let people know how the initiative is progressing and also to enlist the help of local people to ensure that the building has a future.

The centre was closed by Devon County Council in October 2014 due to a remodelling of its youth services.

The John Tallack Centre has been offered back to the local community and it will become the community's responsibility to run and maintain the Centre.

The intention is to encourage people of all ages to use the Centre and the Steering Group would welcome your input and ideas.

Town Clerk Judy Morris said: “The town council is currently the leaseholder for the centre but the aim is to set up a registered charity and then transfer the freehold of the building to that charity - in this way the building will not be subject to business rates and donations can be 'gift aided' to the charity.

“The building will be owned by the people that live in Cullompton.

“I would like to urge people to come along to the meeting if only to see the building for themselves and understand why we consider it important that the building is secured as a base for Cullompton's youth service”.

Several local companies have already offered maintenance services, free of charge and there have been several offers of voluntary help to assist with youth sessions.

It is hoped that youth sessions will start again in January 2015.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to find out more about what is happening or offer your services as a volunteer then please contact Judy Morris at Cullompton Town Council (01884 38249) or email town.clerk@cullomptontowncouncil.gov.uk