CONTROVERSIAL plans for a drop-in youth centre in Crowthorne have been withdrawn.

Crowthorne Baptist Church's HopeZone submitted a planning application back in May to construct a wooden hut at Morgan Recreation Ground, in Wellington Road, and start running the service from there.

However, in light of recent objections from residents and fears about anti-social behaviour as a result of the centre, the church has decided to drop the application altogether.

HopeZone committee chairman, Rev Martin Ceaser, said: "This in no way signals the end of HopeZone as there is still a chronic shortage of meaningful provision for young people in our village.

"However, we have come to the conclusion that if the development were to go ahead, any behaviour deemed to be unsatisfactory on the recreation ground would immediately be blamed on HopeZone, and the young people, which would reinforce their feeling of alienation rather than reduce it as we aim to do."

This comes after Crowthorne Parish Council voted for a three-month trial of HopeZone at the Morgan Centre - as opposed to constructing a new facility.

The trial will no longer be going ahead.

Rev Ceaser added: "We will continue to operate out of Crowthorne Baptist Church for the foreseeable future, and continue our search for a suitable premises that the youngsters can call their own.

"Many of those who have opposed the site have also expressed support for what we are trying to do, and we are grateful for that, however, we are saddened by the fact that the young people's perception of Crowthorne life is that they are a nuisance and not wanted.

"HopeZone, and it's community partners, has always maintained that if we provide a positive example and support for our young people they will be less likely to be in a position to 'cause trouble'."