THE Whitchurch mayor, Councillor Andy Hall, has hailed the opening of a new youth club in Whitchurch.

Cllr Hall attended the opening night for Whitchurch Youth Club in the Watergate Centre on Thursday, Janunary 26 and it is something close to Cllr Hall who works as a youth and community manager.

The club had been based in the Beechtree Centre in Claypit Street, but the centre closed last summer after 27 years and Cllr Hall is delighted to see the club return.

He said: "I'm delighted to see youth work provision back in Whitchurch after the closure of Centre North East and then the Beechtree Centre. "Dozens of young people attended to get signed up on Thursday night. 

"The Watergate Centre is an amazing space for young people to make friends, learn new skills, build confidence & resilience and receive professional information, advice and guidance in a safe setting."

The new youth sessions are being funded by Whitchurch Town Council after it decided to provide an £10,000 funding pot to support youth work in the town.

It is being delivered in partnership with SYA All About Youth and Cllr Hall is looking forward to seeing the impact of it on Whitchurch's young people.

He said: "This is a perfect example of partnership working in action in our community.

"Whitchurch Town Council will provide the funding, Shropshire Youth Association will be delivering the Youth Sessions with Emma Foster and the help of local volunteers and the Beacon Church is generously donating their space at the Watergate Centre.

"This is an important step forward for our young people of Whitchurch."