Aldridge Manor: from the Flickr photo stream of PBBryars.
There has been some interesting fallout following the furore kicked up over the imminent closure of Aldridge Manor Youth Club and dismantling of wider youth service throughout Walsall, and their replacement by some frankly bizarre, not yet thought through system. The rapier-sharp hivemind of Walsall Council’s cabinet have clearly been at work, and decided that the consultation so far offered has not been adequate.
Aldridge Manor has therefore been granted a stay of execution until December.
It’s important to note in reading the somewhat truculent press release included at the foot of this post, issued this morning from the grey Lubyanka, that the service users and parents have been offered nothing new from the council. All that’s presented is further consultation. As it stands, the Manor will still close, but in December rather than July, with this and the rest of Walsall’s service operated from the back of transit vans unless we act together.
Only a cynic would point out that closing a youth club in Aldridge could give the controlling group a bad time at an upcoming, unexpected by-election in the area.
Do not be fooled either by Adrian Andrew’s reference to new buildings, this is classic waffle, clearly cooked up on the fly and does not indicate any such proposal. Ask the people of Bentley how their library is progressing if you’re in any way doubtful of my conjecture.
What this does indicate however, is that the cabinet are rattled. The consultation was wholly inadequate, and it’s nice to see that effective campaigning both on and offline can effect a change in position, both in obtaining statements and bringing the council to heel.
Please do attend the public meeting tomorrow if you can. It will be interesting to see which, if any, of the elected members consider the views of the electorate significant enough to listen to.
The meeting will take place on Thursday 13 June from 6pm to 8pm at Aldridge Manor House, Little Aston Road, Aldridge, WS9 8NJ.
Walsall Council PR 9088 12/06/2013 [For Immediate Release]
Aldridge youth services consultation extended
Young people and their parents will be given extra time to have their say on the provision of youth work in Aldridge ahead of a meeting this Thursday for parents, young people and service users in Aldridge.
Walsall Council confirmed last week its decision to move youth services for young people from Aldridge Manor House as part of a borough wide property review to help save costs.
The public consultation phase was set to end next month in July but the authority has decided to extend this period to Christmas, giving local people more time to have their say.
The Council has also determined its Integrated Young People’s Support Service (IYPSS) will continue to provide youth services from Aldridge Manor House until the end of the year.
Councillor Rachel Andrew, portfolio holder for children’s services said: “I realise there has been some concern from young people and residents about the closure of Aldridge Manor House Youth Centre.
‘The suggestions being circulated that we’ve failed to properly consult youngsters with this decision simply isn’t the case. We’ve been talking to young people who actually use the centre for their views on the future of youth work provision in the area for some time.
‘The decision to close the building has been made but work with young people will still be provided in this area.
‘The provision of youth work at Aldridge Manor House is only one part of what IYPSS offers and our IYPSS service is just one aspect of youth work being provided in the area. There are many and varied youth activities being provided by our partners in Aldridge and we are committed to ensuring these activities continue.”
Aldridge Youth Theatre has already been given funding worth £5k for youth work and a further £10k later in the year from communities and partnerships portfolio holder, Councillor Zahid Ali.
Walsall’s deputy leader Councillor Adrian Andrew added: ‘In an ideal world, if we were looking to provide a brand new Youth Centre here in Aldridge, it would not look like Aldridge Manor House.
‘An older building certainly has its charm, but it’s very expensive to maintain, there are no lifts for disabled users and staff have to spend too much time managing the building rather than working with young people.
‘So whilst the decision to close the building has been agreed, there is still a huge amount of youth work in Aldridge or services for young people. We’ve taken the decision to give people more time to have their say and over the course of the next few months, we’ll be sharing our ideas for the provision of youth work with young people, parents and the local community.’
The meeting will take place on Thursday 13 June from 6pm to 8pm at Aldridge Manor House, Little Aston Road, Aldridge, WS9 8NJ.