Celebrations for plans to reopen Rowde Youth Club have been overshadowed by a disagreement between the former leader and a new committee.

The youth club is to re-open at the village primary school tomorrow evening under the leadership of parish councillor Iain Marr.

But he is upset that former organiser Jan Barber is refusing to hand over the club cheque book and give him easy access to the funds of £4,400.

He said: “I am delighted we are opening the youth club again but I am very disappointed the funds have not been released.

“Jan says she will sign cheques but it seems like a ridiculous situation. Jan said she was closing the club because she did not have enough volunteers and stood down.

“We now have a new committee and lots of volunteers and we have big plans for the future. I have sent her a transfer of responsibility letter detailing our commitment to the youth of the village, but she will not sign it.

“This money was raised by the people of the village for the youth of the village and we now need it to be able to plan for the future.”

But Mrs Barber accused Mr Marr of shouting at her at a youth advisory meeting and said she planned to complain about his conduct to Wiltshire Council.

She said: “I haven’t handed over the cheque book as we have no detail yet about what is going to happen. They do not need to have the cheque book to be able to run the club as I can still sign cheques.”

In July, Mrs Barber and fellow club organiser Karen Wheeler held a farewell barbecue for members and said the club, which opened in 2009, would have to close as there were not enough volunteers.

The club will re-open at 6.30pm tomorrow and Mr Marr said he had plans in the future to introduce an early session for children aged from six to ten in a separate room. He also wants to introduce activities such as video and cartoon making and to organise trips.