YOUNG people in Farnham could have their own drop-in centre by September.

A planning application to convert former Waverley housing department buildings at Montrose House in South Street - next to the Farnham Locality Office - into a "one-stop" advice, information and recreation centre, is about to be submitted.

It is hoped the application will be decided by Waverley councillors in September and that the centre will open soon afterwards.

According to a plan drawn up by Farnham youth worker Jean Tassinari, the centre will be the "nucleus for all youth work in Farnham".

It will boast a cyber suite offering internet access, information centre, coffee bar, relaxation area and a utility room with a shower and laundry facilities.

There will also be a meeting room and hall for a crèche for young parents' groups two mornings a week, a small staff kitchen, meeting rooms for agencies involved in the project and office space for youth worker staff.

The drop-in centre will be aimed at people aged between 13 and 19, with older young people referred to adult services.

The Montrose House project aims to tackle homelessness, social disadvantage, drugs and parenting and will run along similar lines to The Plantation in Guildford and Face to Face in Winchester.

Research by the Police Community Partnership Group and Waverley County Council Leisure Services in 1998 found there was a need for a high-profile venue in Farnham offering a service for young people.

Young people asked for an informal, safe environment where they could meet with their peers.

They also requested the service provide approachable adults with whom they could discuss young people's issues. Personal advisers will perform this role.

It is estimated the centre, which will be open 60 hours over six days a week, will cost £26,000 to set up and £89,500 a year to run.

Progress towards the facility, which has been in the pipeline for more than a year, took a step forward two weeks ago when Waverley Council, which owns the building, agreed to lease it to Surrey County Council, which is leading the project, for £50,000 a year.

Some of the money for the centre has been made available through a new scheme allowing Surrey county councillors to request up to £17,500 each for projects in their area.

Conservative councillor for Farnham South David Munro and his Liberal Democrat counterpart for Farnham North, Janet Maines, have been so persuaded by the need for the youth centre they have each asked that £10,000 of their allocation go towards the project.

Farnham Town Council and the Waverley Community Safety Executive, which includes Surrey police, have all supported the drop-in centre and have agreed to contribute financially.