Buckinghamshire Council has responded to social media rumours that the Amersham youth club was shunned by the new Chilterns Lifestyle Centre.

Rumours online speculated that the youth club had been given a "decaying 1960s hut" instead of space inside the new leisure centre, which opens on November 15.

However, the council confirmed that the youth club had been offered a space in the centre but the youth club believed it was "not suitable" for them.

The youth club instead are using the former St John’s Ambulance building on a short-term basis with the council improving the electrics, toilets and replacing parts of the flooring in the building.

A weekly 2-hour slot will be available to the youth club to use facilities at the new leisure centre.

Cllr Clive Harriss, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “I can confirm that during 2018 Amersham Youth Activities (AYA) met with Chiltern District Council’s project consultants to discuss early design proposals for the centre.

"The youth club were offered a space within the building; however, they advised the council that the proposed space would not be suitable as it did not offer exclusivity for their users and would have to be shared with other groups when they were not occupying it.

"They also required a dedicated entrance to their area in the building which the design couldn’t accommodate.

“AYA agreed to the council removing them from the design brief and for Chiltern District Council to seek alternative facilities within Amersham.

"AYA have been engaged in the whole process and have agreed to occupy the former St John’s Ambulance building on a short-term basis.

"AYA currently have a regular weekly 2-hour slot booked and will be welcome to use the facilities further as needed depending on the programme of activities they may wish to offer, and the preferences of the young people who attend and what they might like to try.”

The youth club is open to 11 to 16-year-olds and will run every day after school in term time from 3.30 to 5.30pm and will offer a range of different activities from pool, table tennis, board games, video games, cooking, sports and even bike repairs.

Jack Gocher, Trustee of Amersham Youth Activities, said: “Our youth workers, trustees and volunteers have worked hard on what was the old St John’s Ambulance building to decorate and equip the centre to provide a safe and fun environment for young people.

"We launch officially on Thursday 4th November and look forward to welcoming young people to enjoy the facilities and spend time with friends, trying out a range of familiar and new activities.”

Residents will be able to take their first look inside the new Chiltern Lifestyle Centre on November 15 which includes a 25-metre swimming pool, diving pool, teaching pool alongside a children’ splash pad area, dry diving training facility, 130 station state-of-the-art gym, group cycling studio, group exercise studios, mind and body studio, sports hall, squash courts, climbing wall, bouldering facilities, clip ‘n climb, children’s soft play area and luxury spa and treatment facilities.

In addition to this, there is a library, community centre, café, pre-school nursery and function rooms for hire; all under one roof.

Outside the centre, there is a skate park, street snooker, outdoor gym and play equipment to the rear of the centre with play equipment, a MUGA and a Petanque area to be added next year.

Cllr Clive Harriss said: “Throwing open our doors to residents and visitors on Monday, November 15, is going to be a momentous day seeing the state-of-the-art building come to life. The Chilterns Lifestyle Centre will not only provide first-class leisure facilities, but it is also going to be an important community and social venue for people of all ages.

“It has been a challenging construction project through an unprecedented time, but there’s been a huge team effort to get to this point and credit must go to the whole project team and everyone who has been involved in creating this incredible centre."