Demand for Youth Facility Reopening in Cotswolds Town

There is a growing demand for a youth centre in a Cotswolds community to recommence operations at a disused school building, following a period where young people have lacked a permanent venue for gatherings. Residents of Gloucestershire are being encouraged to express their views on the future of the former Winchcombe Old Boys School premises. The educational institution closed its doors in 1963, and the site subsequently served as a youth club until 2020, when it ceased functioning due to inadequate maintenance. County Councillor Lynden Stowe commented: “All options are up for consideration so I would encourage anyone with an interest in the site to attend the drop-in event, where you can find out more and contribute ideas.” Winchcombe’s young population has been left without a dedicated and appropriate space of their own, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, and has been limited to meeting at various temporary locations. Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) stated that all possibilities were under review, including bringing the site back into active use or proceeding with its sale. No decisions regarding the building’s future have been finalized, and no plans are currently in any stage of development. A public drop-in session will be held at the Old Boys School on Wednesday, between 15:00 and 17:00 GMT, where county council staff will be available to answer questions. Gemma Madle, a Tewkesbury Borough councillor representing Winchcombe, previously worked as a qualified youth worker in the town for over ten years. She emphasized that Winchcombe’s young people require a permanent space. She stated: ““Those of us in Winchcombe who have long been advocating to GCC for the need for permanent space for young people to meet in are excited about the potential this offers for our area,” she said.“With the support of our town council, we hope to help GCC realise the potential of this important community asset by breathing life back into the building and reopening it for local youth work, providing a dedicated space for young people that has been lacking since the building’s closure.”