Prince Edward opens Blackburn Youth Zone (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Prince Edward opens Blackburn Youth Zone

9:39am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Catherine Pye, Reporter

ROYAL WELCOME Prince Edward chats to teenagers Chelsea Boyle and Sameena Ahmed at the opening

ONE of the most ambitious projects Blackburn has ever seen was opened yesterday – and received a huge royal seal of approval.

Youth Zone, a dream that has taken three years to achieve, will be a sports hub for future generations of youngsters in the town.

Prince Edward, addressing scores of Blackburn’s great and good, said the opening represented a historic day which the town ‘would never forget’.

He said: “Today is quite an important day for the Queen and the country as it is the anniversary of her accession to the throne.

“To be here seeing such great work for the next generation is wonderful.

“In the future we will never forget the day Blackburn Youth Zone was opened.”

The £5million centre is based in Jubilee Street near Blackburn railway station.

Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn said: “The most impressive thing is to see just how many people share the same passion as myself for the town and want to help local people. This is a great project.”

Around 300 business and community leaders were taken on tours of the hugely impressive building, which includes an eye-catching roof-top football pitch, sports hall, gym and dance studio.

Dignitaries were treated to dance and musical performances from youngsters in the sports hall.

They were from the youth panel, which has helped shape the design and facilities at the centre.

There will now be a series of ‘soft openings’ where youngsters will be bussed in from one school at a time to try the centre out ahead of a full opening to the public in a few months’ time.

Yesterday the finishing touches were still being made to the building hours before the royal visit.

Painting was being completed in the morning, while a suspended ceiling was installed the previous night.

Peter Little, chief executive, said: “It’s been a long journey from the starting line, but the building is now finished.

“Young people desperately need our support and this is a catalyst for that.

“We also want to bring the people of Blackburn together to support our youngsters.”

Andrew Graham, chairman of the project, said: “I am incredibly proud. We have used the phrase ‘world class’ a lot. We knew that if we wanted to bring something to Blackburn we had to make sure it was amazing.

“It has been an ambitious project but when there are so many people who are on the same journey and working hard for the same goal we have shown what can be achieved. ”