FIGHT STILL ON TO SAVE YOUTH CLUBS
Council agrees further cabinet discussions on controversial closure plans:
PLANS to close youth clubs in Gwynedd will continue to be discussed by the Cabinet after a vote in council.
The controversial plans would see the council close all 39 of its youth clubs, saving the authority £270,000.
The move has sparked outrage among campaigners, with a petition signed by 6,000 people presented to the council last week.
A motion was put forward by Trema- dog councillor Alwyn Gruffydd calling on the Cabinet to reconsider the closures.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside county hall in Caernarfon ahead of a debate in chamber on the plans.
In a statement released in the name of the umbrella group Cadw ein Clybiau, the campaigners said: “We’re asking every councillor to vote in favour of the motion in the council meeting to keep our community youth clubs.
“Closing these clubs would be fatal for the Welsh language by reducing the opportunities for young people to use the language.
“It will also affect the whole community as young people will have nowhere but the streets to socialise with each other in the evenings.”
Cllr Gruffydd argued to his fellow councillors there was no shame in the Cabinet taking another look at closing the youth clubs. He said: “Are there not some things that are worth going back to look at? There is nothing wrong in that, it’s not a surrender, it takes people of vision to take a step back.”
He added: “We have a petition signed by 6,000 people with their concerns and you can disregard that but to do that would be a cheek.”
Pentir councillor Menna Baines put forward an amendment to the motion calling on the Cabinet to discuss the issue further with other interested parties, including community councils and to take into account the impact the closure would have on deprived areas and the Welsh language.
Councillors voted by 38 votes to 30 in favour of the amendment.