A COMMUNITY group has called on Swindon Council to delay its plans to move the town's Youth Service into the former railway museum.

The Swindon New Mechanics' Trust says it only found out about the £1m project after reading it in the Adver, which is denied by the council.

Under the proposals, the old museum's grand façade will be restored to its original glory, while a new wooden floor, stage, alcohol-free bar, al fresco café, offices and toilets will be part of the refurbishment.

And the council says the building's excellent acoustics will be put to good use when a stage is built to host youth performances.

The Youth Service is currently located at the Civic Campus, which the council says is not easily accessible for young people. The trust says the museum in Faringdon Road is already catering for a large number of the town's young people through a wide range of groups who use the old museum.

But a statement from the trust says the group has been left with only a week to find a new site.

"The New Mechanics' Institution Preservation Trust Ltd learned through the press today that after four years residency in the old railway museum they are facing eviction despite on-going negotiations with the leader of the council to secure a lease on this historic building," the statement said.

"The proposal is due to be decided at cabinet on June 6 leaving the trust just one week to fight against this proposal.

The statement added: "The council's Youth Service proposal duplicates much of what the trust has been achieving through their work with the community.

"We already enable young people to get their own ideas off the ground as our response to the Government's Youth Matters consultation submitted by Swindon Youth Council two years ago.

"The Community Crossroads hosts many activities for groups that may be outside the mainstream, and in some cases sidelined by the Council itself."

Trust chairman Daniel Rose said: "The trust's volunteers have spent four years building a popular and increasingly recognised facility for the whole of the town despite the lack of understanding and support of Swindon Borough Council."

And former councillor and Swindon New Mechanics' trustee Lisa Hawkes said the council had shown a "blatant disregard for volunteers and local groups across the town".

The trust wants the council to delay its plans for the building until trustees have met with Swindon Council leader Roderick Bluh on June 19.

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: "There is no truth whatsoever in the claim that the Swindon New Mechanics' Trust first learned about the council's plans for the former railway museum via the press.

"Besides being informed in writing, the trust's chairman was also contacted by telephone before the news was released to ensure that this did not happen. Following this telephone conversation, a meeting has been arranged to discuss alternative venues for the organisation.

"It has always been clear to the trust that it was occupying this building on a temporary basis and we hope that it will support the council's proposal to preserve this historic landmark and enhance service provision for youth and the community at large."