A CAMPAIGN to provide a dedicated and desperately needed purpose built facility for young people across West Somerset has been re-launched - two years after a promise of land and support for the project failed to materialise. Community leaders had previously been hoping to build on West Somerset District Council-owned land at the rear of Minehead's Aquasplash but could not secure a long enough lease from the authority to attract the major grant aid needed. The building would have incorporated among other things a youth centre, café, skatepark, dance space, state-of-the-art sound system and a hall suitable for a range of activities. Now Minehead EYE, the organisation driving the project, has launched an action group to breathe new life into the campaign and ensure it becomes a reality. Organisers are now pinning their hopes on being able to use part of the Somerset County Council- owned market/station site following recent consultation by the authority which showed the provision of youth facilities to be one of the top priorities for local people. The inaugural meeting of the new action group, held just a few days before Christmas, drew around 30 young adults and teenagers. Although a significant amount of preliminary work was carried out for the previous hoped-for building at Aquasplash, the scheme is now being updated. Among the facilities it is now hoped could be provided are a skatepark for use by skaters, 'in- liners' and BMX users, a cafe and social area, a recording studio for local young musicians, a media suite and an area for activities ranging from pool and trampolining to rock climbing. The estimated cost of the original building was around £750,000 but organisers are hoping to reduce the current project to under £500,000. The action group is now undertaking research to look at similar youth projects, particularly in the South West, drawing up a business plan and beginning to consider what shape and form the building could take. It is also looking at potential ways to raise awareness of the scheme and win support from local businesses and the community. Ideas put forward so far include lobbying local councillors, seeking sponsorship from the business sector and staging exhibitions and demonstrations of the skills of the action group members. Minehead EYE spokesman Neil Parbrook said everyone was aware that if they were to persuade the district and county councils to contribute to the project and hopefully provide the much-needed land, the financial and commercial aspects of the project had to be taken seriously. "It was great to see so many people turn up [at the meeting before Christmas] and be enthusiastic and we hope that the relevant councils will be as enthusiastic as we are about providing this wonderful and much-needed facility for young people in West Somerset." Mr Parbrook said meetings had been set up with both district and county councils and a presentation was also being organised for the end of January. "One of the most exciting things about this project, beyond the provision for young people, is that the facility could double up as a wet weather attraction in the summer months and so help to sustain the tourism industry, which we know the council is supportive of," he said. "We have a huge amount of work to do in a very short space of time if we are to see this vision made a reality and we would be very grateful for any help or support from individuals or local businesses. "I would love to hear from anyone who would like to join in or who has ideas for ways we can take this forward, and especially how we can raise some funds." The district council is due to make a decision in January on whether to spend between £50,000 and £100,000 on a mobile youth facility, which would probably incorporate a skate ramp. But Mr Parbrook and some councillors have urged caution, fearing many towns and villages would simply not have the tarmac space the facility would need. Mr Parbrook has also warned there is no "quick fix" to providing West Somerset with youth facilities and that the district needs a permanent scheme. Anyone interested in helping the new action group take its plans forward can email organisers at [email protected]">[email protected], call 08451599142 or visit the website http://www.minehead-eye.net">www.minehead-eye.net.