Lib Dems Secure Promise - No Wiltshire Youth Centres to Close

At the meeting of Wiltshire Council's Cabinet on Tuesday, the Lib Dems secured a promise from the council's leader that no Wiltshire Youth Centres would close.

The question was repeatedly asked by Trowbridge Councillor Helen Osborn, the Lib Dem lead member on Children's Services, who finally secured the pledge.

"I'm delighted to have got this commitment from the administration," Helen commented after the meeting, "as it is certainly not a commitment made in the fudge of a report that has been produced by the council.

"I am concerned that it is still not clear where the cuts are going to be made, instead we have some random comments on unfilled vacancies, charging children to attend youth centres and selling fruit smoothies.

"What we really need is a well thought out and structured long-term plan for youth work in the county, with proper and careful consideration given to the impact of any changes on local communities and, indeed, the young people themselves.

"I will now be carefully monitoring the actions of the administration over the coming months, and will hold them to their promise that they will not be closing any Youth Centres".

Leader of the Lib Dem Group Jon Hubbard attacked the report saying, "The administration need to spend less time telling how lucky we are that they are not cutting quite as savagely as other Conservative administrations, and instead concentrate on actually producing a viable solution that meets the needs of Wiltshire's young people.

"I'm fed up with hearing cabinet members tell me how awful it is in Hampshire, why don't the look at council's like Lib Dem run Portsmouth where no cuts have been made in Youth Service provision, indeed they are actually investing in their communities and have recently opened a new council run (and staffed) library."