Work begins on new £1.5m Youth Centre

The Phoenix Centre will be created on the site of the former community college's design and technology block.

Demolition of that single-storey building on the college's Westloats Lane campus has begun.

Students from the Regis School joined county councillor Simon McDougall and workers from construction firm Willmott Dixon to start the process.

Among them was Michael Wood, 15. He is one of the pupils whose ideas have helped to influence the new centre.

"I wanted lockers because you need somewhere to put items so you don't have to carry them around all day," he said.

"We also asked for a soundproof room to give bands somewhere to rehearse."

The three-storey centre for 11 to 19-year-olds has been funded by a national lottery grant to West Sussex County Council.

It will house facilities for performing arts, sports and media and is due to be completed next April.

But it might never have happened without Bersted Cllr McDougall.

He fought for the centre when it became obvious about two years ago the 39m government funding for the new school excluded a youth centre.