A youth centre which is being forced from their home by Surrey County Council has launched a petition to ensure the group is provided with an alternative home.

Epsom Phab, which provides activities to both disabled and able bodied children, has worked from the Linton’s Youth Centre in Linton’s Lane, Epsom for the last 30 years.

Up to 100 children attend the group every Friday night with many other community groups using the facilities throughout the week. However SCC voted at a cabinet meeting in December to sell the centre with the aim of finding the group an alternative and cheaper venue.

A task force has since been set up by the council to relocate the group with a current deadline of December 2012 for the centre to close. The group’s petition calls for their new location to be "totally accessible, very secure, have plenty of indoor and outdoor space, be within Epsom and Ewell, and be affordable."

Julie Giles, a club leader for 30 years said: "We have got the first meeting of our task force with SCC on March 5 so that’s progress. We have had visits from various people from the council seeing the club in action so at least they know what sort of accommodation we need. Our main concern now is the time scale. We just need to make sure the commitment by SCC translates into action. We have lots of supporters but it’s great for people to be able to put their name forward."

For more information and to sign the petition visit thepetitionsite.com/1/save-epsom-phab