Severely damaged Crook youth club to be demolished

Councillors said the community centre's decline started in 2015

A community centre has become so severely damaged it will have to be demolished, a council has said.

Glenholme Youth Centre in Crook had provided leisure and sport activities run by volunteer youth workers.

But loss of staff, lack of investment and the Covid pandemic resulted in deteriorating facilities, Durham County Council said.

Anne Reed, who represents Crook, said the council had to weigh up providing facilities for children with safety.

"My heart is with the kids and taking something away from them was a very difficult thing to do," she said.

"We didn't realise just how much damage there was and how much it would cost.

"It's been repeatedly damaged and broken into and there is the worry that people will hurt themselves."

Durham County Council agreed alternative facilities were needed

The local authority has submitted plans to demolish the nearby derelict bowls pavilion along with the centre, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Asset strategy and property manager Anna Wills said: "They have stood empty for some time and their condition has deteriorated considerably due to anti-social behaviour."

The council would work with the local community to decide on a future use for the site, she added.

Ms Reed said the centre's decline started in 2015 when many groups relocated to more sustainable premises.

'Need youth facilities'

This was exacerbated by the Covid pandemic and ambitions to turn it into an internet café never came to fruition.

The interior is severely damaged by leaks caused by a poor quality roof and safety inspectors have deemed the site unsafe.

Some groups and families still use the centre, including the local boxing club, and the council said finding a replacement was now a priority.

Ms Reed said the building would cost too much to repair "but we need youth facilities in the area".

"We need youth workers, who can connect with groups to bring people in to make it sustainable," she said.

"We can't just rely on volunteers running it."