A TEENAGER has expressed strong concerns over potential closures to youth services.

In July, the Star reported fears over the prospect of youth clubs facing the axe following council budget cuts.

The future of the centres had been the subject of a council review, it was understood. Labour made an election pledge to create a major youth centre in the town centre.

Now the Newton-le-Willows teenager, who has asked to remain anonymous, has become the first youngster to speak out.

They told the Star: “From my current research, I have gathered that the council will be having one main youth club in an area that is yet to be discussed which will be a bigger and better facility.

“This does sound like an advantage, but thinking behind the lines there will be a lot of other disadvantages.”

They went on to outline concern over the practicalities of having just one facility in the borough, of potential increases in cost for families of children who use the council’s services and fears over services being less accessible.

“There is a decrease in disposable income for families, and families would have to pay travel expenses to arrive at the centre. If a family have more than one child using the centre it could become very costly and maybe unaffordable for the children in that family.

“The youth centres also offer other services besides sports, arts and crafts and any average youth club. They also offer sexual health facilities, confidential counselling and other services.

“If there was to be one centre, with different staff, children are going to be less comfortable in asking for help.

“Another problem will be that staff would lose their jobs, meaning that the youth will be less likely to visit the centres due to not being familiar with the staff or even the actual area where the centre will be based.”

St Helens Council responded by stating that no decision had yet been made with regards to the shape-up of youth services.

"The type of activities provided by the council - and where they are provided - is something we're looking into with the help of young people themselves,” said a council spokesman.

“A consultation exercise is currently underway and the opinions of young people, parents and carers across the borough will help to shape the service we offer. As yet, no decisions have been taken."