A community building, once under threat of closure, is celebrating a successful first year of operation, writes Clarissa Place.

The Station, in Exeter Road, remained open after a campaign to reinstate the youth club and create a community hub following cuts by Devon County Council.

The Reverend Mac Dick, who spearheaded the project, said trustees would like to increase the number of community groups using the building, adding: “We would love this to be overflowing with community groups using it. It will be open for business, particularly at weekends. We are trying to get some of the young people to be involved with the committee.

“We want to invite some youngsters to make sure that everything that we put on is what they want and not what the committee wants.”

The town’s youth club currently attracts up to 30 youngsters on Monday evenings. Youth workers Sam Durkin and Ali Lawrence hope to increase numbers for Wednesday sessions and its new bi-weekly homework club.

Ali said: “Come down and tell us what you would like to do and we will try and accommodate it.”

The club runs from 6pm to 8pm on Monday for pupils in years six, seven and eight, and on Wednesday, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, for students in year eight and above. The newly set up homework club runs from 3.30pm to 6pm on Mondays and to 6.30pm on Wednesdays.

To enquire about using The Station, call 01404 813041 or email info.otterystation@gmail.com