A YOUTH Club has been given a new lease of life after plans to extend it to create a sports hall were approved this week.

Youngsters using the Chalfont St Giles Youth Club will now have access to better facilities after Chiltern District Council gave the thumbs-up to redeveloping their hall, in Narcot Lane.

They raised the money needed to make the application to the council themselves – and the move paid off as the plans were passed unanimously by members of the planning committee on Thursday night.

Planning officials had initially insisted on the implementation of a travel plan as one of the conditions of permission being given after concerns over the lack of nearby parking spaces was raised.

But members were told the club already operates a drop off and pick up policy and many youngsters walk or cycle to the club – leading to the travel plan condition being dropped.

Cllr David Spate said members of the village’s revitalisation group, police and the district council’s sports co-ordinator were all in favour of the plans after visiting the club.

He said: “The Youth Club provides an invaluable service and is very strongly supported by the local community.”

Cllr Nick Stewert said: “This is absolutely what we want to see, young people engaging with the community. We want to give them opportunities and the management and the young people themselves should be commended 100 per cent.”

The plans were passed unopposed.