A NEW youth centre in Newbury has been given the go-ahead, with plans for a huge outdoor climbing tower. 

The Waterside youth and community centre, by the Kennet canal and behind Camp Hopson, will be partially demolished and extended. 

Councillors on the western area planning committee at West Berkshire Council voted to approve planning permission at a meeting on December 18.

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Gary Norman, a Newbury town councillor, said: “Specialist services for youth in Newbury are scarce, and there have been cuts. There are often complaints about youths hanging around in parks.

“This building sitting around empty is a shame, and a golden opportunity to provide a service to little or no cost to public resources.” 

The new youth centre will include an outside 14.5 metre climbing wall, which not everybody is happy about. 

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Paul Wood, a planning consultant on behalf of Camp Hopson, the neighbouring department store, said the shop supports the youth centre reopening, but has concerns about the climbing tower. 

Mr Wood told the committee the tower would block some light going into the store and views out the window. Camp Hopson, owned by Morley Stores, also had concerns about how the tower would impact the shop’s own future plans for redevelopment. 

But Nick Kirby, representing the youth centre, said: “Permission for this important community project should not be delayed or complicated because Morley Stores, who are a private corporation, may wish to redevelop their site in the interest of asset management and financial profit.”

Sport climbing will be introduced into the Olympics next summer. David Seward, from Berkshire Youth, said: “Climbing as a sport is booming. We see it as an aspiration to motivate young people.

“Climbing has a real sense of adventure for young people and others as a community.” 

Councillor Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley & Cold Ash) said: I’m really pleased to see this application come before us — bringing back into use a youth centre. I think the climbing tower looks like a cooling tower, but if that’s the thing that will attract young people in to the building, then fine.” 

Councillors voted unanimously to give planning permission.