RESIDENTS in Chudleigh are being asked to consider forking out £5 a year, less than 10p a week, to keep the town's youth centre going.
The suggestion came from Teignbridge Council's deputy leader, Cllr Ray Frost, at Monday's monthly meeting of Chudleigh Town Council.
'I do not see why we as a town could not support this on a regular basis and drop the money into the town hall,' he said.
The chairman, Cllr Douglas Laing, said there was no reason why the council could not write to every household in the town with Cllr Frost's suggestion and explain the importance of the youth centre.
Vice-chairman Cllr Chris Webb said people's pockets were being attacked mercilessly at the moment but he was sure they could give £5 a year.
At the beginning of the meeting Cllr Laing presented a £1,200 cheque from the council for the centre to Bill Keen, the chairman of the Chudleigh Youth and Charitable Trust.
Mr Keen said it was very much appreciated but he warned that 20 per cent of the centre's revenue would reduce at the end of the year.
Cllr Webb said the centre would be losing about £10,000 in funding.
'The funding they are getting at the moment is not enough. We as a council have to do what we can for the youth centre.
'Taking into consideration the age groups they cover, I think it must be a top priority,' he said.
Cllr Webb is organising a charity event for the youth centre and asked his council colleagues to give it some thought and come up with initiatives to raise money.
'I do not want us to go back to the old days and see the kids on the streets again,' he said.
Cllr Laing pointed out that it was not a feasible option to put it on the precept.
'If you have any ideas whatever contact Cllr Webb,' he said.
Cllr Bill Stanyon criticised the grant aid schemes where funding was given, as in the youth centre's case, to set it up for three years.
'I believe they should give the grant for the three years and an equivalent amount of money to be invested for the future, rather than cut