A WHITCHURCH councillor believes young people in the town are disgusted by the damage caused to Centre North East.

Councillor Andy Hall, who is a youth worker in the town, says it is not known who caused the damage to the building in White Lion Meadow, which is currently empty because of roof damage.

Cllr Hall hopes the future of the building will be soon in town council hands, believing the quicker it happens, the better.

"We do not know who has caused the damage to Centre North East and unsure if it has been reported to the police to date," he said.

"Cllr John Sinnott contacted Shropshire Council to report the building was unsecured.

"Through my youth work and being employed in education locally, many young people have told me they are angry and appalled at the damage caused by a small minority of mindless people who are not a reflection of our young people of Whitchurch.

"Sadly, when buildings are left to deteriorate, they attract vandalism by individuals who think it’s fun to wreck the young peoples’ facility.

"Recently there has been infrastructure improvements to keep people from climbing on the roof which is in a poor state.

"Currently, Whitchurch Town Council are in negotiations with Shropshire Council with a view to obtaining a community asset transfer (CAT) of the building to us.

"During this period of due diligence, there has been a public meeting to ascertain the views of local groups and young people to possible future uses for the building including youth club and to how the project would be funded in the short and long terms.

"This process can take some of time and I understand it can be frustrating, the majority of the town council is eager to get the centre up and running again and in public use but we need to get it right."

Anyone with information on the cause of the damage are urged to contact West Mercia Police on 101.