A YOUTH project near Selby has been scrapped before it started, with £11,000 returned to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Selby District Council was granted funding from the PCC's Community Fund after a successful bid to start a pilot scheme in Sherburn-in-Elmet, in an effort to help reduce and even prevent antisocial behaviour in and around the village.

When the funding was announced, it included plans to use a number of temporary buildings to house a 'safe space' for young people in the area to socialise, "with trained youth workers on hand to help them address issues that may be affecting them, providing support, intervention or signposting".

A synopsis of the scheme said: "The main aim of the portacabins will be to reduce the number of incidences of [antisocial behaviour] in the village, through a combination of targeted youth work and diversionary tactics. This project will be heavily influenced by the young people of Sherburn-in-Elmet themselves."

This week a spokeswoman for the council confirmed the scheme had failed to get off the ground, due at least in part to the community's response to the plans, and the £11,000 had been handed back to the OPCC.

She said: "The community fed back to us that the original funding application didn’t reflect their needs or desires when it came to delivering this project. This was because the application coincided with the start of a multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour in the area which used different approaches.

"The money was returned to the PCC Office but has been ear marked so that those involved locally in leading on this community work could use it in the very near future to address these specific issues in Sherburn."

The council spokeswoman said the community feedback was made "face to face at community events and meetings with landowners and parish council", and none of the £11,000 had been spent or required repayment.

A partnership between police, the district and county councils, police and others - known as the Safer Selby Hub - identified offenders and took action against them, the spokeswoman said, negating the need for the new scheme.

Antisocial behaviour legislation was used and some were arrested, with visits to schools and homes by police, and some youths were issued with 'acceptable behaviour contracts' to prevent further offending.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said: "The project in Sherburn in Elmet gives young people a safe place to spend time, as well occupying them in something positive to do and reducing the chances of any anti-social or intimidating behaviour. Investing in young people is the right thing to do and this project ticked all the right boxes."

Mrs Mulligan said the funding had been transferred to a local community trust, and would be used on a new project in the near future.