HASLEMERE'S Surrey county councillor has given her assurance that threatened closures of the town's youth facilities would not go ahead until "alternative arrangements could be made". Christine Stevens told The Herald this week, following the news that Neutralzone in West Street would not reopen and the Old Fire Station youth arts centre in Chestnut Avenue could close, under cost-cutting proposals by SCC, that facilities for young people would be safeguarded and included in the plans for Haslemere's new library. With Haslemere's new library planned for the Wey Hill Fairground car park and not likely to be open until next year at the earliest, Mrs Stevens said that SCC has pledged to "improve the facilities in Haslemere for library users and people who want to study; for public access to information and for young people. "I am genuinely excited about these latest developments and reinforce my message from last week that the future is looking bright," said Mrs Stevens, referring to her comment about youth facilities in the town, in last week's Herald. "Basically we have listened to local views that the youth element should be improve, and more space made available," said Mrs Stevens, who also spoke of other amendments to the library plans requested by residents. "The new library area is no way compromised by the improved facilities for young people," she continued. "It stays the same and public access to information via the computer room and face-to- face information is improved." And she said that space allocated to young people on the base floor now includes a separate entrance at the rear, as well as the front entrance on the library level at the Wey Hill side. Also included on the same floor is a multi-purpose hall, cafe and space which was previously allocated to a minibus, which is now no longer required. In addition, upstairs there will be an activity room, the library, a learning centre and the Waverley locality office, which is due to relocate from its present site. Above there is an ICT resource centre and staff offices, toilets and storage areas. "In all, the complex is looking much more rounded, better for young people, which offers more flexibility and uses space more effectively, especially on the ground floor," continued Mrs Stevens. But she said there "was still work to do" before plans can be presented to the public and local councillors, with final plans expected to be released in May of this year.