CAMPAIGNERS are demanding answers over the future of a New Milton youth centre that was opened by billionaire businessman Richard Branson.

Clubs using the Phoenix Centre in Culver Road, New Milton, are said to be under threat following Hampshire County Council’s decision to sell the building.

Eaglewood, a special school run by nearby Arnewood School, has been based at the centre since 2013.

The county council is selling the complex to the Education Funding Agency (EFA), which intends to lease it to Eaglewood.

Town councillors say they understand the site is unlikely to be available outside school hours after next September, leaving a community of 26,000 with no proper youth facilities.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the council’s finances and general purposes committee.

Cllr Steve Clarke said: “I’m very supportive of Eaglewood but there had always been an assumption among members that youth provision at the building outside school hours would continue.

“We’ve been told that youth provision at the building will no longer be available as of September 2016.

“If that’s the case, I think the town is being robbed.

“We need to clarify the position, but if it’s confirmed I think it’s outrageous.”

Cllr Geoffrey Blunden said the town would be left with only one small youth building – a cafe by the town’s skateboard park – if the Phoenix Centre was no longer available.

The building was opened by Sir Richard Branson in 1987 in honour of his grandfather who founded the town’s first youth centre.

Speaking at the time, he said: “Now New Milton has a fantastic youth centre which can make so much difference for local children and the community.”

A county council spokesperson confirmed that the authority had accepted the EFA’s offer for the site.

He added: “The county council has made it clear that the current youth provision and children’s centre service must be maintained up until the youth support service grant ends in autumn 2016 and until the children’s centre contract ends in March 2017.

“Future use of the centre by community and youth groups and services will be for discussion between the service providers and the school sponsors.”