A PLANNED replacement for a Newport boys' club should be a centre for the whole community to use, residents say.

The planned Ringland Phoenix Centre, to be situated on the site of the old Spencer Boys' Club, which was closed more than two years ago, should be a hub for sport, leisure, training and education for the community of Ringland, local people have told council chiefs.

It is hoped that the centre may be ready in the spring of 2004. Councillors and campaigners for a replacement for the club are pinning their hopes on a £400,000 SPORTLOT grant to help them fulfil their dream.

Gary Taylor, community development officer from the Ringland Resource Centre, said that a community study had revealed that residents wanted somewhere that could be used as a "hub" for community activities.

He said: "There was a need for youth provision, education and training, vocational and leisure facilities.

"It was evident that residents of Ringland wish to improve the quality of life on the estate."

Mr Taylor said that the new centre aims to give residents of all ages, colours, religions and abilities the chance to participate in training, education, sport and office facilities.

He said: "We are hoping for office space for people such as CAB, Youth Services, local AMs and MPs, interview rooms and for workshops.

"We want to have vocational courses and look at lifelong learning, and also work with Coleg Gwent to provide accredited courses.

"We want to give people a reason to get up and go out on a morning with courses from arts and crafts to IT."

Mr Taylor said there were three different strands to the new centre that would involve the whole community.

He said: "There is the chance to meet AMs and MPs and know they will be available, the educational and vocational side where people can build knowledge and self-esteem to help get a job, and the chance to offer sport and leisure activities.

"We want to make the centre socially inclusive so there is something for everybody."

* The Spencer Boys' Club had to close because its building was deemed a danger to the public, ending 30 proud years of history, with the club nurturing talent like that of Welsh international soccer star Nathan Blake.