A SMALL community has been split over planning permission for a youth centre.

Planning officers from Derwentside District Council have recommended refusing permission for the centre at Front Street in Langley Park after receiving complaints from nearby residents.

However, youth leaders say other members of the community have already rallied round and given the proposed centre full electrical wiring and carpeting.

Councillors will decide whether to grant permission, at a meeting today, at 2pm.

Youth centre leader Linda Halliday, who said the youth club was already operational, and had more than 70 members on its books, had told how she had even arranged for Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson to open the centre.

She said: "We have had all kinds of help from everyone. We have had rewiring for free, and carpets right through.

"We have tried other places like Langley Park Industrial Estate, but there is nowhere suitable.

"We have had a lot of support from parents, and we have a lot of kids who use it.

"To say we are disappointed is an understatement."

Mrs Halliday said the number of complaints about youths causing annoyance had fallen dramatically since the youth club started - from 30 complaints a month to none in August, only one in September, and one in November.

Derwentside council has received three letters of objection from residents complaining about noise levels caused by the club at the former shop, in Front Street.

Esh Parish Council has also opposed the scheme.

In a letter to Derwentside council, the parish council makes clear that while it generally supports initiatives of this type, there are concerns over noise, an absence of qualified workers and what it claims is a lack of any consultation exercise.

Senior planning officer Fiona Clarke said that there were no objections from the police, but residents had complained about noise. She said: "While the use proposed by the applicant would be of general benefit to the community, I feel that this is an inappropriate location for the group being situated to residential properties.