A SHAKE-UP of young people's safe meeting places could see Shipley Youth Cafe moved and its Bingley namesake rescued.

A proposal by Bradford Council's department for environment and sport is to save £27,000 annual rent on the Market Street property where Shipley Youth Cafe is now based and move it into the headquarters of community health charity Hale in Westgate next to the Yorkshire Bank.

The yearly cost of the relocated council-backed service would then be some £8,000.

The other proposal is to move the Bingley Inclusion Project into the Bingley Youth Cafe at the town's swimming pool, thus providing the council-owned property with a constant tenant.

Another possibility is to relocate council staff from Green Lane Recreation Centre to the site.

Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services failed in its bid for renewed Lottery funding for the BYC, but has now raised sufficient funds to employ former full-time youth worker Paula Stone for three days a week for the next year.

In a report to Shipley Area Committee which meets tomorrow, the council's director of environment and sport Steve Hartley states: "The current location for Shipley Youth Cafe and the services are outstanding. Unfortunately the cost of their building is unsustainable costing over £27k in rent, rates and utility costs."

Mr Hartley says efforts to raise extra revenue in Market Street have failed and after "exhausting discussions" it has been concluded that moving in with Hale would be the best option.

"This will enable both a presence in the centre of Shipley for young people to be able to access advice and support," he says.

"Co-location with Hale will also potentially lead to greater partnership benefitting young people and both organisations.

"This would also help support and maintain Hale and would be an excellent link into heath services."

In Bingley the Youth Cafe has thrived for more than four years and the proposed link up with the council-run Inclusion Project would prevent the site from being closed.

Hale charman Natasha Thomas welcomed the proposal.

"I would be delighted as we would be able to carry out our health service with young people from the cafe.

"It would be a more coherent use of space and our area would be larger than the existing cafe, plus we could use our shop over the road as a drop in space.

"I'm really hoping the committee votes in favour of the idea."

Paul Stephens, chief executive of Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services said: "We now know we can get enough funding a member of staff at Bingley Youth Cafe for three days for the next year at least.

"The proposition is to use an existing council-owned building and would enable open access for young people ate lease a couple of evening every week.

"We will be looking to work with Hale on bigger bids to secure funding for youth projects across the whole area."