Eye residents petition Peterborough Council to save youth club and library

Hundreds of people in Eye, Peterborough have singed a petition fighting to save the youth club and library

A village community has launched a petition to save a 60-year-old youth club and library after a city council announced its building is to be sold.

Residents in Eye, Peterborough, said they were "angry" at Peterborough City Council's plans to sell the building housing the youth club and Eye library.

The proposal is part of the council's plans to dispose of 79 buildings to balance its budget deficit.

Some users described the Eye library as a "lifeline".

Nearly 70 children between the age of nine and 12 use the Eye junior youth club. Campaigners fighting to keep it open told the BBC the proposals had made these young people "very upset". It is also used by the Girl Guides.

Dale McKean, who started the petition and moved to the village in 1980, said the council plans came as a "shock" to the village.

"We already have hundreds of signatures. Eye residents are very angry and children are very upset at the council's decision. No one was consulted or informed about this," he said.

Dale McKean, who started the petition and moved to the village in 1980, said the council plans came as a "shock" to the village

Lilian Muxlow has been working with the Youth in Eye Village for more than 40 years and has been running the Junior Youth Club on a voluntary basis for the last 18 years.

She said it was an "important space for many".

Mr Mckean said: "It's sad news for the village. It's an asset for the whole community.

"The village has grown considerably in the last 10 years and these facilities are absolutely needed for young families and children."

"We call on the council to not close Eye youth centre building and use the grants available from the government's £70m fund for youth clubs announced in August this year, to upgrade the building in time for the reopening of senior youth club by 2025."

The Eye village community will take the signed petition to Peterborough City Council's full council meeting

Eye's Manor Farm Community Centre has been offered as an alternative to be used for these community groups and library.

But residents say it is "impractical" and lacks space to accommodate all groups and has no secure storage for the groups high value items. The toilets are also externally located which could "pose a security threat" for children.

The petition will be taken to Peterborough City Council's full council meeting next month.

A public meeting will be held on Friday with Peterborough MP Paul Bristow to highlight residents' concerns.