YOUNG people throughout Yate and its neighbouring parishes are being asked to sign up to a new petition and show their support for the Yate Youth Café.

Back in 2004 Yate Town Council ran a consultation with young people in the town which found an overwhelming 81.4 per cent of people would use a youth cafe on a regular basis.

Councillors then agreed to contribute £400,000 and £25,000 a year revenue costs to build the café in the shopping centre - but the plan later fizzled out.

Ever since then, the project leaders The Youth Cafe Steering Group have been searching for a suitable site, and it now looks as though space could be found for the facility in or nearby the Leisure Centre.

Charlotte Williams, 25, is the Yate Youth Forum worker in charge of this final and vital push for support.

"The more young people that sign up, the more favourably the council will look upon our petition." said Charlotte.

"We will be launching our new bus, Urbie', on Monday outside Boswell's café and we're hoping to use this opportunity to boost publicity for our cause.

"It's been a long time coming, but it is hoped that a final push and show of support will be what business partners, funding bodies and members of the community need to prove that this will be a vital and well supported resource."

Youngsters are gearing up to deliver the petition to others in a number of different consultation events around the town and in youth centres in Brimsham, Abbotswood, Brokeridge and as far out as Winterbourne.

It is also hoped to get the petitions into schools so all students can have the opportunity to learn about the plans for a dedicated space where young people can socialise, access information and have the opportunity for employment in the Youth Café's very own social enterprise scheme.

A delegation from Yate will be presenting the petition to a full South Gloucestershire Council meeting at Thornbury council offices on May 21.