RESIDENTS from Pontllanfraith have started a campaign for a community centre to be opened on their estate.

Barbara Evans and Barry Jones say such a centre would give youths on the Springfield estate a place to meet - and could be used by older people as well.

Now they are organising a public meeting for tomorrow evening so that local residents can have their say.

The hope is that the current Springfield Centre, in Llanarth Road - which is owned by Caerphilly council and used by several charities - could be extended to give the area a full community centre.

Mrs Evans, who lives in Millbrook Road, said yesterday that at present the centre is one large room, with a kitchen and a few smaller offices.

She said her initial reason for asking for a centre was so that children and youths would have a place to go.

"For a centre to be effective it would be essential to ask the youngsters for their input," she said.

"Some of them I have asked have given me a list of activities they would like to see being provided in the centre. The fact that there are kitchen facilities would be a plus."

She added adults had also suggested the centre should not be for the benefit of youngsters alone.

One parent had expressed the desire for computer lessons, she said, while pensioners could also meet there.

Other suggestions include a drop-in centre and a before- and after-school club, as well as an over-50s' club, a playgroup and dance lessons.

"These are only some of the activities that are possible if we have big enough premises," Mrs Evans said.

There are now plans to send out questionnaires to homes in Springfield, asking people if they would support a centre - and asking for volunteers to help get it up and running.

Tomorrow's public meeting is being held at 7pm at the Springfield Centre.