A youth group leader says the closure of the Connaughty Centre would be an “absolute disaster” for young people in Corby.
Paul Balmer runs the Oakley Rangers group, offering free music tuition to young people in exchange for carrying out community work.
He teaches guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, keyboards and singing at the centre in Cottingham Road, and says Northamptonshire County Council’s proposal to close it is short-sighted.
The club currently has about 15 members aged between 11 and 17.
Members’ musical prowess has seen the group nominated for Corby’s Got Talent, the Spirit of Corby awards and Wicksteed’s Got Talent.
Mr Balmer said: “It has given us a home away from licensed premises. It is designed for young people, it is clean, it is quiet and it has work space.
“It is brilliant for Oakley Rangers. It has an area where you can do tuition and a main room where you can hold performances. You can’t do that anywhere else in Corby.
“We need places where young people can engage in positive, constructive activities and there are very few of these places in Corby.
“We also have close links with Corby Radio and the kids have broadcast on there a lot.
“If we don’t support our young people then we are building a disaster for the future.”
The Youth Offending Trust, Corby Radio, The Prince’s Trust and Corby MP Louise Mensch all use the centre as a base.
The county council says it has to consider the cost of keeping the centre open.