Welshpool's youth services "will continue," says council

Youth services will continue in Welshpool with the same level of service and youth workers, despite the town's youth centre closing.

Powys County Council has said a review undertaken into the service found that it was becoming too costly to maintain buildings, such as Welshpool Youth Centre, that were used for just a few hours each week.

But it has promised to maintain the same level of services and maintain its youth workers who will instead use other facilities, such as schools and county council buildings elsewhere in the town.

The council will close youth centre buildings throughout the county as part of the changes originally announced last year.

In a statement, the council said: "Powys youth service will continue to provide the same range of activities for the county’s youngsters despite changes to building ownership.
  
"Last year the county council announced the service was relinquishing control of the buildings it was responsible for but would maintain the level of service on offer and retain front-line posts."

Cabinet Member for Youth Service, Councillor Rachel Powell said; “At a time when the service was required to make considerable savings it was becoming increasingly clear that the youth service could not afford to maintain costly buildings that were only used a few hours a week.

“A comprehensive review recommended that the service give up its direct ownership of buildings and concentrate on delivering the service with partners, which will include using other facilities owned by the council, including schools, leisure services, libraries or other suitable local facilities.

“The cabinet agreed that the service should give-up costly buildings but continue to focus on delivering the same range of activities for youngsters and retain professional qualified youth workers.

“The only difference service users will see is that the facility used to run these activities may have to change and be more flexible. But, the service will also continue to provide support to young people in the county’s high schools exactly as they have in the past,” she added.