A FEW months ago your paper published an excellent article regarding the proposed Xtreme Sports Centre which was proposed for Launceston.

This centre would provide facilities for skateboarding and BMX cycling, be a flexible centre to enable it to host other events for young people such as music and drama, plus have facilities for information, advice and guidance, multi-media, youth internet cafe and so much more; a much needed venue linking extreme sports and popular youth culture.

Outline planning permission on a site in Coronation Park had been received. I repeat a quote by a member of the management committee who have been working for several years on this project: "The Xtreme Sports Centre will offer a safe, staffed environment, and opportunities for young people to engage in and develop their skills in extreme sports and multi-media arts all year round. The centre will offer a flexible space and will have a varied programme of activities for all ages and abilities and will work closely with other youth service providers to improve things for young people in the North Cornwall area."

At the same time you published a letter from me outlining how we had submitted, in November 2007, a plan for the development of youth services in the Launceston area but only a very small part of this had been implemented by the county youth service. Months later, following two meetings at County Hall and at The Orchard still no progress to report; in fact the position is now worse.

The Xtreme Sports Management Group, with the full support of Launceston Forum, submitted a bid to the Big Lottery Fund My Place for major funding. Though it was an exciting project and met all the criteria and outcomes requested by the funders, the group have been notified that the bid will not progress to that stage where it would be considered on its merit because: "Your bid has not been endorsed by the Chief Executive of the relevant top tier local authority — that is Cornwall County Council."

We were made aware of the fact that the Chief Executive had not endorsed the bid, on the advice of her youth officers, only the day before the final date for its submission. Though it was forwarded independently, for the above reason, it was not considered.

Had it been endorsed and examined on merit along with other bids from across the country we would have accepted the decision of the independent panel; it is much more difficult to accept that our own authority, despite representations by Cllrs Adam Paynter and Neil Burden, would not support the application.

Once again the Launceston area will be deprived of a major development, which would have been built from grant funding and not local taxes, because of a lack of support from our own county council. I, and I hope many others, find this extremely difficult to accept.

I promised to keep you informed of any developments relating to the youth service in this area but regret that, once again, it is with a negative tone.

Former Youth Champion

and Director of

Launceston Forum.