AN appeal against Waverley borough councillors' decision to reject plans for a multi-purpose youth facility at Montrose House in South Street is being considered.

The Farnham Youth Consultative Group (FYCG), which is behind the project, was asked by residents to continue its fight for the facility at a meeting held at Church House.

Despite fears expressed from the youth group about the expense of an appeal case, Reverend Andrew Tuck, of St.Andrew's Church, successfully proposed the move .

It was voted through by the majority at the meeting, who feared the needs of young people in the town were being ignored at the expense of other projects.

The fact that only a handful of teenagers were present was attributed by one resident to their having "become disillusioned" by the situation with Montrose House.

Funding of up to £500,000 towards the scheme has now been placed in abeyance, but the FYCG are confident this could be called upon once its plans are secured.

The town's CAB is now in negotiation for the use of the building after it lodged complaints about its suitability as a youth venue. It questioned the proposed level of supervision and proximity to neighbouring retirement flats.

Alternatives put forward at the meeting included a mobile youth bus service and temporary shelters - but these raised further concern that the central issue of a permanent base was being lost.

Teacher Jan Weir summed up the mood: "I have three children and want them to be in the town and not shoved out. We should not curse our young people but bless them.

"There is so much money spent on other issues, we cannot just keep telling them they should have something. They really need our best. Come on Farnham, we can make this happen."

Chris Mansell, the Waverley borough councillor portfolio holder for the redevelopment of East Street, urged the consultative group to re-examine the existing Farnham Youth Project in Dogflud Way.

But its response was that without several hundred thousand pounds investment, the metal-shell building would be unsuitable for the advisory services it envisaged.

On the issue of East Street youth provision, Mr Mansell confirmed conversations had taken place between the borough council and Crest Nicholson/Sainsbury's.

However, there is currently nothing scheduled as he said developers were not clear on the specifications of what was being sought. This would have to be addressed urgently. Mr Mansell added it was "most important" that young people have a facility in the town centre as they had been waiting for years.

"The East Street project is for the community and it has expressed very clearly a need for youth facilities," he said. "Both Waverley Borough Council and the town council support that to the hilt."

Speaking after the meeting, Pat Lambert, of the FYCG, thanked everyone for their support so far. She said: "We will be talking with Mr Mansell shortly and, although we set out our plans with our planning application, we will crystallise these further. We are hopeful a solution can be worked out for this much needed facility." She added a decision on an appeal would be made within two weeks.

Sharing Mr Mansell's belief that the Farnham Youth Project in Dogflud Way could form a solution was Surrey county councillor Marie-King Hele, who is one of its founder trustees.

She refuted FYCG claims the building would require significant financial input to make it viable and, given increased levels of staffing, believed it could fulfil its potential.

"There are other places for young people, such as the skate boarding park where we have just paid for a new ramp," she said. "At the youth project there are offices (which could be used for advisory purposes), and on Saturdays it has a coffee bar which we have just set up."

Terry Prescott, of Crest Nicholson, said his company had been in discussion with youth groups in the area and were keenly aware of the need for provision of such facilities. He said: "Having collected a great deal of feedback on the proposals over the past few months, the next step is to balance all the different requirements for the site, including provision for Farnham's young people, in a scheme that works for the whole town."