YATE’S newest building project is well on its way to completion on budget and on time.

Environmentally-friendly floors made out of hemp and lime have now been laid at the youth café, being constructed next to Yate Leisure Centre, using a method known as hempcreting.

The £1.3million café will open its doors with a celebrity launch in April 2011 giving teenagers somewhere to meet their friends, enjoy live music and access advisory services.

The project is a joint venture between Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council, who are splitting the costs of the café.

Yate councillors have expressed concern at running costs and future maintenance bills, which mount to a total of £686,000 in the next 25 years.

Cllr John Ford said: "Staffing levels of the café are particularly large.

"They need pruning and it needs someone sensible to look at it who is paying the bills."

Each council will put money aside every year to pay for repairs as part of a rolling three-year legal agreement.

Funding and sponsorship is also being sought from local companies and organisations, and Merlin Housing tenants have just pledged £5,000 towards the project. Cllr Chris Willmore, who spearheaded the idea of a youth café in Yate, said building work was progressing steadily.

"It is up to second floor level and looks so much bigger inside," she said. "The servery inside is now being designed and a planning application will be submitted very soon for the artwork."

Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people at South Gloucestershire Council, said: "It’s great news that work is progressing well on the Yate youth venue and café. It will be a fantastic facility when it is opens in the spring."

Professional artist Tony Stallard, a former pupil at Brimsham Green School in Yate, has been appointed to create a piece of public art which will adorn the side of the building.

The work, paid for by a £75,000 grant from Tesco as part of the redevelopment of its supermarket in Yate Shopping Centre, will include a series of flashing sequential lights and circles of colour.

"People will either love it or hate it like all art," said Cllr Willmore.

Young people are now being invited to name the new cafe. The winner will receive tickets to the launch event and free entry to events at the youth café for a year. Visit www.yateyouthvenueandcafe.org or email your idea, along with your name and age, to info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk