Theatre could become youth centre
An old theatre is set to be transformed into a youth centre – if a £5 million bid is successful.
The Haymarket Theatre, in the centre of Leicester, has been standing empty since its last show in January 2007.
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Councillors Ross Willmott, Vi Dempster and Patrick Kitterick
Leicester City Council wants to give the old building a new future – by turning it into a hub for 13 to 19 year olds.
There are plans to provide dance, drama and music studios, a sports area, a skateboard and BMX track, climbing wall, library and homework area, plus a cafe, adventure play area, games consoles and web access.
The council has bid for £5 million of Government money for the project, and will know if it has been successful by the end of February 2009. Another £1.5million will be found by the city council for the project.
Council leader Ross Willmott said: "This is such an exciting venture .
"This facility will not only benefit thousands of young people across the city, but will breathe new life into the old Haymarket Theatre.
"There has been some fantastic regeneration work in the city centre recently, with Curve and Highcross, and the hub will only complement this.
"If we are lucky enough to get the grant for the hub, we are anticipating the new building to be up and running by 2011."
The total cost of the project would be £6.5 million. The centre, which would be called Leicester City Youth Hub, would provide services aimed at more than 90,000 young people.
Councillor Vi Dempster, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "There is a real shortage of youth provision in the city centre and this hub would really fill that gap.
"We want a service that has the potential to reach out to every young person in the city.
"This hub will cater for the entire needs of young people in Leicester, from emotional support, through to their educational needs and their general health and well-being."
The council's elected Young People's Council will sit on all planning and project groups, working alongside architects, project managers, partner services, officers and councillors.
11 Comments
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by Daniel, Leicester
Friday, October 31 2008, 3:05PM
“got it thanks AK, just didnt think it was relevant.”
by AK, Leics
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 9:32AM
“You cracked me up simon, don't think anyone else got it though.”
by Daniel, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 3:45PM
“Ru, I am sure there are alot of brilliant young people around i have no problems at all with that. But the city centre only seems to attract the bad sort i.e the ones that layabout the clock tower every saturday afternoon swearing there heads off and intimidating normal shoppers! You have just said that you had little opportunities yourself as previous age groups have ruined it so whats going to change here then?? are the youth of today any different from when you were young! I would welcome a centre for youths to hang out thats NOT based right in the city centre! in fact i would find city centre thats empty of youths on a saturday a marvelous day out! and of course they will be all in the new centre making finger paintings and playing pool quietly, everyones a winner, great!”
by simon, city centre
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 3:37PM
“I last suffered a bit of pier pressure waiting to get on the big wheel at Blackpool”
by Ru, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 3:17PM
“Daniel - my generation has rarely been allowed these opportunities or facilities due to previous age groups misusing them. I hardly think being positive about young people involves rose tinted glasses, it's merely giving everybody a chance. There have been and will always be 'bad apples' but what about the unsung brilliant young people that could use this to thrive and call their own? This sounds like a great opportunity so why condemn it before it's given a chance?”
by Daniel, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 3:07PM
“Ru, you believe I should get a grip? I believe my grip on todays society is firmly grasped thanks. Lets have a youth hangout in the middle of the city centre where 10's of or maybe 100's of youths could get together! very bright, how long before a few bad apples spoil the fun and cause mayhem. I believe that large groups of youths become suseptable to pier pressure and showing off for status symbol! surely if anything on this website has taught you its that gangs of youths are responsible for so much crime and violent assults. i remember granby halls skating days on a sunday afternoon till the criminal element got into it and there were more fights and trouble there than you could imagine because of the amount of youths in one place, suprisingly it was shut down!. Get a grip yourself and try taking of the rose tinted glasses, a place like this will only give the small amount of criminal offenders a fabulous turf to claim there own.”
by Ru, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 2:41PM
“Daniel - get a grip and stop tarring all young people with the same brush. I hardly think teens that do drink, fight and mug people would even consider going to such a vibrant-sounding place which will hopefully provide a 'safe' place for kids to hang out and have fun without being victimised by small-minded views.
It sounds like a great idea to me, I hope it all goes through.”
by Councillor Phillip King, Kibworth, Leics
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 1:53PM
“This would be the same City Council which has been implicated over their lack of support for the £1.7 M Greenacres Community Centre,at Mowmacre Hill, highlighted just last week in the Leicester Mercury. Not heard as yet what they are proposing to do with this brand new facility in a well documentated area of deprivation?
Whilst I am in favour of encouraging youngsters and offering them positive opportunities, is the City Centre such an ideal location?
Perhaps taxpayers money would be better spent on supporting the many existing services and centres across the City which are desperate for any funds they can get, rather than on such a massive one stop shop- which by the way young people will have to travel to reach!
My solution for the haymarket would be to turn it over to a youth theatre/arts charity”
by Martin, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 12:49PM
“They've tried selling the building and failed so now they have come up with this crazy idea. Nothing against youth but it will do nothing to improve this run down area of the city centre.”
by Karen Green, Leicester
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 12:20PM
“I think it's a great diservice to our youth to be written off as drug dealing drinkers, who would use a place to get loaded, and then hit the streets to mug people.
Many of todays teens have the same aspirations that we did, they want to get on in life, do well in school and go on into successful jobs in the future.
The Haymarket theatre once was a great venue to visit, but those days are behind us now, we have new theatres to visit and it makes no sense not to try and turn the building into something of use for future generations.
Kids will believe they are hopeless , unworthy contributors to society if that is all we tell them, but give them a chance to try something new, do something productive and thrive in a venture and we could be seeing something really worthwhile.
To write off our youth, is to write off our countries future, personally I cannot do that.”