The group behind a youth club which has provided facilities and entertainment to Winsford’s youngsters for more than 45 years claim they are under threat of closure.

Winsford Youth Forum say the town is in danger of losing the ‘well-established’ New Images after its bid to take control of the building’s lease was rejected by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC).

The Nixon Drive club opened in 1969 as a purpose-built youth centre and operated as such until 2002, when operational control passed to Verdin High School - now the Winsford Academy - under a joint use provision with CWaC.

But with the school’s new building now fully operational, they no longer need the extra space and their lease will expire from the beginning of July.

The forum submitted a bid under the asset transfer scheme to have the centre transferred to their management in November last year.

In April, however, they learned they had been unsuccessful.

Bob Barton, from Winsford Youth Forum, said: “It was a phenomenally successful youth club, with a history of community input. Consequently it is well-known throughout Winsford.

“With the past interest and the need for continual youth provision at a ‘buzzing’ venue, it is imperative that Winsford residents are aware of the present and potential dire situation.”

Explaining why the bid was knocked back, Bob said CWaC cited the building not being fit for purpose, that Winsford Youth Forum’s business plan was inadequate, that the group wasn’t organisationally strong enough and that it didn’t have the building development skills to deliver the project.

Bob revealed the cost to repair the building, which he says has been ‘left to go into structural decline’, is at least �200,000.

He said the forum is already taking steps to address CWaC’s concerns, including drawing up new funding and business plans, as well as seeking a partner who will take over the lease, with help from the Ellesmere Port-based Youth Federation.

Bob said: “Prior to the school taking over the building in 2002, it was a purpose-built youth centre, it was all singing, all dancing in terms of youth provision.

“We would like to get it to be back to what it was.”

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “We are keen to support the valuable work that Winsford Youth Forum delivers and are holding discussions with them to establish a way forward.

“One possibility currently being explored is for the council to provide an interim lease to keep the building up and running until a longer term solution can be determined.”