THE long term future of Watchet's youth centre and the possibility of a proposed new community development will be investigated by a four-strong group of local councillors.

Watchet Town Council took the decision to set up a working party in November after the idea of a new-build community sports and recreation centre on the site of the existing youth centre on the Memorial Ground was put forward by Watchet Boxing Club spokesman Frank Collinson.

This week the authority elected four councillors to look into the issue - Cllrs Janet Tapp, John Irven, Loretta Whetlor and Ruth Gavenlock.

But the council's monthly meeting on Monday heard that a more comprehensive report was needed on the condition of the youth centre building.

Cllr Tapp, chairman of the council's tourism and leisure committee, said an initial report had failed to provide sufficient information.

Council chairman Cllr Sally de Renzy-Martin, who is also chairman of the youth centre management committee, had told the tourism and leisure committee last month that the doors in the building were rotting and a total of seven would soon have to be replaced.

Work was also needed to the toilets and the floors would have to be resurfaced at some point in the future.

Cllr de Renzy-Martin had told the committee the centre was no longer receiving any income from Somerset County Council, which previously paid half the cleaning costs, the TV licence and provided the youth service.

However, a £15,000 grant from the county council had been ring-fenced to pay Minehead EYE, which would provide the youth club element and staff for the next 18 months.

Cllr de Renzy-Martin said the building in its present state was not fit for purpose and if the income continued to be offset against expenditure, there would be an estimated deficit of £5,493 by 2015/16.

Cllr Tapp said tourism and leisure committee members had agreed the top priority was to keep the youth club running for as long as possible.

A list of essential work and the costs, including the cost of replacement doors, needed to be drawn up to keep the building fit for purpose for the next two years.

Councillors agreed that even if a decision was made to replace the building, this was unlikely to happen within two years.

Whilst awaiting the additional information on the youth centre building, the newly formed working group will also research the new-build project by consulting the local community and other interested parties.

It expects to bring an initial report back to the full council within the next two months.

Cllr Dave Westcott told Monday's meeting that he could not understand why any work to upgrade the youth centre was being considered when the council might decide to support the new-build project.

But Cllr Tapp said only essential work to allow the youth club to continue running was being looked at.

"If we have to close it then we will lose the county council grant," she said.

Supporters of the new-build centre, which would cater for all ages, hope the project could be funded from a share of a £20 million pot of cash from EDF Energy, the developers behind the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Watchet Boxing Club would be prepared to invest £35,000 and grant aid would also be sought from Sport England.

Cllr Westcott said although the Hinkley funding was unlikely to come on stream until the middle of next year, applications would need to be in by April or May.

And he said the best chance of securing Sport England cash would within the next six to eight months because of the Olympic legacy.

"We need a firm recommendation on this, one way or another, as soon as possible."