YOUNG people in Portishead have been assured that a youth service will continue in the town, despite the temporary closure of the youth centre.

The Harbour Road building is due to close its doors next week to allow phase three of the centre’s redevelopment to go ahead.

Daytime pre-school sessions and evening youth activities will move to the St Barnabas Children’s Centre in West Hill on May 3 and are expected to remain there for the summer.

Full time youth worker Alan Rowe said: “The relevant equipment will all be moved to the St Barnabas Centre so that the soft play, dance and band programmes can continue without any disruption and most of the normal youth centre evenings will stay the same.”

Monday to Wednesday night youth activities will operate at the West Hill venue, but options for Thursday evening youth club are currently being investigated. Young people have been asked for ideas, with activities at the Lake Grounds one suggestion that is being considered.

The long-awaited final phase of the youth centre’s redevelopment will bring the 1960s building into the 21st century. A new modern entrance will be created and an extension to the front of the building will provide additional office and creative arts space.

The first two phases of the redevelopment, now complete, have seen the refurbishment of the office, administration area, consulting room and toilets.

The centre’s media suite and multipurpose hall, which doubles as a dance studio, received an overhaul and a new state of the art coffee bar has been installed.

Once all work is complete, the youth centre has the potential to open seven days a week, providing much-needed youth facilities in the town.