Get behind our world-class club, Blackburn businesses urged

The £5million Youth Zone, which will have a football pitch on the roof, a climbing wall and a host of other activities for youngsters, is to be built on Jubilee Street within the next two years.

It will be the first part of the £70million Cathedral Quarter masterplan to get under way, with work set to begin early next year.

Yesterday about 100 business bosses at Ewood Park were told about the plans, which will be modelled on Bolton’s famous Lads and Girls Club.

With 25 per cent of the project’s running costs to come from the private sector, they were told their support would be vital for the success of the scheme.

The event was chaired by Andrew Graham, of wallpa-per manufacturer Graham Brown, which has been in the town for 63 years.

He told the audience: “Once in a lifetime a project comes to town that can really galvanise the community.

“We need it. We are all proud of Blackburn, for different reasons, and this is a chance to get behind what I think is a world-class facility.”

The centre, built on land donated by Blackburn with Darwen Council, will have an illuminated translucent main wall and a walkway alongside the River Blakewater.

Jerry Glover, chief execut-ive of Bolton Lads and Girls Club, added: “Getting the building right is crucial.”

The Youth Zone will be open from 3pm to 10pm.

Peter Little, in charge of the project for the council, said the borough had the largest proportion of youngsters in the country, who had to put up with ‘huge levels of deprivat-ion’ in some areas.

He added: “The situation is very bleak for young people.”

During the presentation, teenagers were given a warm ovation after they performed a dance routine they had prepared in the town centre.

Cash to build the centre has been secured thanks to a £5milion government grant. Running costs will be met by the council (40 per cent), trusts and fundraising (25 per cent), entry fees (10 per cent) and the remainder from the private sector.