PLANS for a youth café in Tavistock received a big thumbs up from town councillors last week after members of the project steering group made a special presentation at a full council meeting.

The steering group, all members of Tavistock Youth Council, said the aim of the café was to provide a safe, friendly and fun place for young people, near to the centre of town and close by bus routes.

The group launched its business plan to an audience of invited guests in Tavistock in January. It has already identified a site at which the youth café could be constructed, on land behind the Youthwize offices in Pixon Lane.

A planning application for the portable cabin in which the café would be run was also submitted last month.

Cllr Iain Andrews congratulated the group on their presentation.

?It showed you have looked into all the areas ? I thought it was a brilliant presentation,? he said.

Cllr Roy Connelly asked if the youth café would cater purely for people from Tavistock or whether youngsters from other areas could use it.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green asked if there would be a fee to come into the café.

Youth council chairman Lesley Greenway told councillors there was a ?huge catchment area? for the café, which would serve all the small communities surrounding Tavistock.

She said there would be no fee for people to come to the café.

?We will make money from the sale of food and drinks and there would be a charge for activities and for sub-letting the space,? said Lesley.

Cllr Ted Sherrell said: ?I was very impressed with your presentation and by the way your committee have handled things over some considerable time.

?Some time ago some residents had concerns, but you held a meeting and I think you handled the situation quite brilliantly.

?Your presentation confirmed what I thought ? it?s a very good scheme and it?s in the right hands.?

A survey conducted by the youth council identified Wednesday and Friday afternoons/evenings and weekends as the most popular time to run the café.

Staff, checked by the Criminal Records Bureau, will be employed on a full-time and part-time basis and there would be strict rules prohibiting alcohol and smoking.

The café would provide computers, a TV and video, pool table and music equipment.

Anne Johnson, district youth support worker, said plans for the youth café were going well.

Several big funding applications have been submitted for the £236,000 project, including a large one to Children in Need. Two separate grants of £700 and £500 had been received in the last week.

She said everyone involved in the scheme was determined it would succeed. At present, the youth council is trying to source a double classroom-type portable cabin which could be used to house the youth café.

?We?ve been through Devon County Council, Plymouth Schools, the health authority but with no luck so far,? said Mrs Johnson.

Anyone who knows of suitable premises which could be of use to the youth council should call Anne Johnson on 01822 613807.