MILFORD Haven Youth Centre "is not adequate for use by a modern youth service," the county council has accepted.

And there are now discussions underway to figure out the best way try to bring youth services in Milford Haven up to scratch.

The issue of youth club provision in the town has been high on the agenda since it was revealed that of nearly £600,000 spent on youth clubs in the county since 2001, exactly zero was spent on Milford youth club.

The development of the Torch Theatre into the Community Education Centre, where the youth club is based, also meant that the few established facilities would be under threat.

Milford county councillor John Cole, and his Labour colleagues, later submitted a notice of motion that the county council establish high quality youth clubs in Pembrokeshire's main towns.

That proposal was rejected but the Milford issue has remained a point of contention.

This week a council spokesman said the youth centre had previously been a "beacon of good practice."

But he added: "However, in more recent times, and especially since the loss of a large section of the Community Learning Centre to the Torch Theatre, the buildings and facilities available are not adequate for use by a modern youth service.

"The Pembrokeshire Youth Service, through Chris Charlton, the mid-Pembrokeshire area youth co-ordinator, is bringing together a group of interested representatives from the town to consider the options for youth services in Milford Haven.

"There have already been some initial discussions with Project Milford."

But Cllr Cole, who has long pressed for increases to youth provision in the town, remains unconvinced.

He said: "I'm aware of the line being taken by the county council and it is my opinion that the county council has a statutory responsibility to provide youth club services in full.

"The county council line is also interesting baring in mind that they have known for over three years that there has been a lack of proper services for the youth of Milford Haven."