MEAN councillors have tried to block a move to give young people free use of Marlborough Town Hall two nights a week while the Youth Centre is shut.

Refurbishment of the 30-year-old youth centre is taking longer than expected.

Coun Richard Allen, who is a member of the youth centre management committee, asked the Town Council on Monday if the centre could use the town hall two nights a week.

Councillors including former mayor Nick Fogg said they were against the youth centre having free use of the hall. None of the councillors objecting to Coun Allen's proposal were against the young people of the town using the town hall.

Several thought that as the youth centre is a county-run facility, Wiltshire County Council should foot the bill for hiring the town hall.

Marlborough town council has been trying to encourage the town's youngsters to take an interest in its work.

It tried inviting youngsters to its council meetings that always start with a young people's question time. But no young people ever turn up.

Coun Allen said: "This is an opportunity for us as a town council to show our support for the valuable work they do at the youth centre and to support the young people of this town."

Town Clerk Graham Gittins said there would be no loss of revenue because the hall was not used Tuesday or Thursday evenings.

Coun Nick Fogg, the leading organiser of the annual Marlborough International Jazz Festival, said: "I do not see why we should discriminate in favour of one organisation. Can we have the town hall for the jazz festival for nothing? After all, we bring millions of pounds into this town."

He added: "We are being asked to pick up something that is not our responsibility, this is a county responsibility."

Members voted by eight to four with one abstention to agree to the youth centre's request.

Youth worker Emma Hooper said it was hoped the refurbishment work at the youth centre is due to be completed by the end of April.