Young people have been “let down” by the Government’s decision not to fund a new skills centre, a councillor has said.

The proposed Feltham Skills Centre was seen as vital for offering better job prospects in an area with a high rate of unemployment, providing training in construction, catering, engineering and hairdressing to hundreds of students a year.

But the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced it will not back the £20m project, which would have replaced the dilapidated former People’s Centre in the High Street.

Councillor Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said: “There was certainly an expectation on my part that the proportion of truly local students would have increased.

“The decision of the Government is very, very bad news for anybody who believes in the high profile of skills training in Feltham. It was a hugely disappointing decision, especially as the case for this investment was so strong.”

West Thames College, which submitted the plans, has had to close the rundown skills centre in Boundaries Road, Feltham, several times due to electricity and heating failures.

Coun Bowen said training for young people in Feltham would suffer a major blow if the building could no longer be used.

He said: “I very much hope the skills centre on the current site can continue for as long as possible. If there comes a point where that’s not possible, clearly some serious discussions need to take place.”

Marjorie Semple, principal of West Thames College, said: "West Thames College will now actively pursue alternative plans to secure the long-term future of this vital centre which provides such an important training provision to the community in the west of the borough.

"I would like to reassure staff, students and prospective students that the future of the skills centre is secure and will continue as normal at its current location in Boundaries Road until at least 2011."

Alan Keen, MP for Feltham and Heston, said he was “very disappointed” the LSC decided not to fund the new centre, adding: “I will do everything in my power to support West Thames College in securing funding for the Feltham Skills Centre when it next becomes available."