BUILDING work has started on a badly-needed £170,000 youth club for teenagers in Stonehouse.
The project, funded by Stonehouse Town Council, will see donated modular pods linked and clad to create the new clubhouse facility on the Oldends Lane Playing Field.
Stonehouse has been without a youth club for years since the old one in Elm Road was condemned and later sold to a developer.
Then in summer 2011 Gloucestershire County Council axed all provision for young people in the town.
Now a quiet room, larger meeting room, kitchen and toilets were on their way, said Stonehouse town councillor Pam Swain.
"May Day was a great day for young people in Stonehouse as work began," she said.
The youth club project was sparked by the donation of the six modular pods by Stonehouse firm Unite when it went into liquidation.
"Since then a group of young people and youth leaders have met regularly and worked with members of the town council to share their thoughts and ideas for the building," said Coun Swain.
"They have visited other youth clubs to gain a wider perspective. The young people are now involved in planning fundraising activities to help to furnish and equip the building."
The new Stonehouse Youth Club is expected to be finished by autumn.
In the meantime, youth activities continue to be provided in Stonehouse by outreach workers from Psalms, the Youth Council and Young Gloucestershire. It is expected they will move inside the new club once it is completed.