Eastleigh ballroom set to become youth centre (From Daily Echo)

Eastleigh ballroom set to become youth centre

10:11am Thursday 28th January 2010 in

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IT WILL be the final nail in the coffin for Eastleigh’s historic ballroom.

Despite passionate pleas from some of the country’s most talented young dancers to save Leigh Ballroom, councillors are set to vote through plans to transform it into a youth centre.

Eastleigh Local Area Committee has been recommended to vote in favour of the change, bringing to an end the 99-year dancing history of the much-loved building.

The closure of the ballroom is to make way for a new youth centre, complete with a £680,000 revamp by Eastleigh Borough Council.

As revealed in the Daily Echo the news devastated dancers who trained at the ballroom under the guidance of Linda and Robert Bellinger, who have been running their dance business from the venue since 1978.

They have been teaching ballroom and Latin classes with their daughter Lisa Ivanets and her husband Alex who are the current UK professional Latin dance champions.

But with their 25-year-lease on the council-owned building at an end, council bosses decided to convert it into a youth centre, creating eight full-time jobs.

The new facility will include pool tables, an IT suite, a counselling service and will host discos for up to 300 children.

The plans have received 44 letters of objection, opposing the loss of the dance venue and expressing concerns over noise generated from those using the centre.

Council leader Keith House said: “The need for a youth facility in the town centre has long been acknowledged and this is an exciting scheme that will provide a much-needed youth facility for the town centre.

“The council is committed to providing facilities for young people and, if approved, we will look forward to working with the community to provide an excellent venue for youngsters to enjoy.”

Councillors will consider the change of use of the building at today’s meeting.