THE newly re-elected mayor of Frinton and Walton has listed his top priority for the next year as building a £1.25 million youth centre in Kirby-le-Soken.

Tendring First councillor Terry Allen was re-elected at Frinton and Walton Town Council's annual meeting.

Mr Allen hopes work on a youth centre will start next year.

He said: "It could be used by Scouts, St John Ambulance, and other groups.

"Hopefully it will be in Lower Kirby, where it will be easily accessible from Great Holland, the Kirbys, Walton and Frinton.

"I hope the centre will have a large main drill hall with ancillary rooms around it for the different organisations, who could use it as their headquarters."

Mr Allen said there was £250 million set aside by the Government for youth projects and he hoped this cash would be put towards the centre.

"I have written to the Prime Minister about this, who put me on to the Government Office for the East of England - which has funds available for schemes like this.

"I have now spoken to the county council about it and we are waiting for a response from them."

Mr Allen, who represents the Frinton ward, said it was good to be given a second term as mayor so that he could continue projects he started.

He added: "Last year saw a tremendous amount of work completed, ranging from refurbishing seafront shelters, buying equipment for police community support officers as well as saving Walton market from closure.

"The conservation area management plan was published for Frinton last year and we are now looking to roll that out for Walton, the Kirbys and Great Holland."