Electric Storm Youth plans handed into Adur District Council

LOCAL residents who have been the driving force behind an exciting youth project are waiting with bated breath.

After five years of hard work the planning application for Electric Storm Youth was handed into Adur District Council last week.

Now it is a waiting game to find out if they have been given the thumbs-up to build on the former Freshbrook School site, in North Road.

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Musician Marion Peskett has been the key player behind the project, coming up with the idea five years ago while at a seminar.

She said: “A vicar was talking about how we can help young people.

“He was from Essex and he spoke about their multi-purpose youth facility and how crime had gone down by one third.

“At the end it was suggested maybe we could do something similar where we came from.”

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The idea blossomed, with a team of local people working together to come up with a project to encourage young people off the streets.

Marion said: “I believe children need to be supervised and need to be in a place where they can feel secure but also where they can be themselves.

“Young people can be a bit silly sometimes and they will be mucking about.”

If given the go-ahead, the new facility will be built on the north side of the site and will be the size of four badminton courts.

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It will include removable skate ramps, so the facility can be used for band nights, concerts, and indoor football events.

However, the project is not just aimed at young people, with the hope adults will use the facility to help fund the project.

The old school building is already used by a multitude of groups, but it is hoped with this project the area will become a community hub.

Marion said: “It is about making a multi-purpose youth facility but it will need to be for the community as well.

“It is a perfect spot to have something special.”

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Electric Storm Youth is a registered charity, with MP Tim Loughton the patron.

The project has been funded through various money-making activities, such as concerts. However, the project was given a boost after Adur District Council’s new chairman, Brian Boggis, named the project as one of his charities for the year.