PLANS have been drawn up for a £2m youth centre in Eastwood.

The closure of a youth club at Eastwood Comprehensive School in 2002 left many youngsters with no place to meet.

Now Notts County Council plans to build a centre on the corner of Kelham Way and Derby Road.

It will house Notts County Council's youth work team, its youth offending team and the advice service Connexions and provide a place for young people to socialise.

Coun Philip Owen, cabinet member for children and young people at the county council, said: "Provision for young people is essential, to give them something constructive to do with their free time so they're not left hanging around with nothing to do.

"It will provide them with a lot of interesting activities to keep them occupied."

The concrete building on the site would be demolished. It has fallen into disrepair from vandalism.

It would be replaced by a building with ecological features including a biomass boiler with wood chips, a rainwater recycling system, waterless urinals, low-flush toilets and solar panels to heat water.

Notts County Council bought the site from Broxtowe Borough Council last year. The council is also planning to buy the car park from Greene King; it has 27 spaces.

Other sites were considered, including the former church hall of St Mary's Church in Coronation Park, the former annexe of Eastwood Comprehensive School, in Walker Street, and the site of Eastwood Infant and Junior School.

The £2m centre would be part-funded by Notts County Council, with £1m of Government funding provided.

Coun Milan Radulovic, who represents Eastwood on Broxtowe Borough Council, said: "We've been planning for this for more than five years, probably as much as seven years or eight years.

"We're trying to give Eastwood youngsters the best chance they've got in life of achieving [and] having proper access to education.

"It will be an opportunity for the youth service to help our youngsters and to stop people hanging around on the street. Let's provide some good facilities for youngsters."

delia.monk@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk