The parish wants to borrow �950,000 for the project

Parishioners in St Saviour have delayed approving a loan of nearly �1m until they get assurances they will not be asked to pay more for the centre on Plat Douet Road.

Most of the money has been donated by the Jack Falle Foundation, but parishioners say they will not agree to borrowing the rest until they know what the centre's running costs will be.

Parish Constable Philip Ozouf said he would provide parishioners will full details of the costs before holding another meeting next month.

We do absolutely nothing for the youth of this parish. We should be putting this through Constable Philip Ozouf

The centre would be for residents of Clos Gosset, Grasset Park and Gorden Le Breton Close and parishioners have been asked to join a management committee to run it.

However, the parish still needs �950,000 for the development and it has been proposed to borrow the cash from the States.

At a meeting on Thursday night, about 70 parishioners were asked to approve borrowing the money.

Rate-payer Linda Houze said many parishioners did not know they would be expected to pay for it and some where worried about who would be in charge of the centre when completed.

'No control'

She said: "If there's a proven need, I think most people would be happy to spend �5 to �20 towards it, depending on their rate bill.

"But the fact is they're going to be borrowing that money from the States and the next day we are handing it over with no control to a charitable trust foundation."

Constable Philip Ozouf said the community needs the centre and is hopeful it will still be approved.

He said: "It is a lot of money, but the parish is a big parish.

"We have a turnover of more than �2m and we do absolutely nothing for the youth of this parish.

"We should be putting this through because I think it will be the for the benefit of the people."