Ross Town Council could buy the building in Hill Street, used by the Basement Youth Trust (BYT), to provide a youth club in the centre of town, suggested Councillor Phil Cutter during a heated debate at the meeting of Ross Town Council on Monday, March 12th.

This option was put forward by Cllr Cutter after he was told his suggestions that the youth club could move to the Tudorville and District Community Centre or John Kyrle High School would not be popular with the youngsters who use it.

Keith and Susan Wilding attended the Ross Town Council meeting because they had written to the Town Council about the situation at the BYT, asking Councillors for some answers.

They had written because of the current review of Youth Services which Herefordshire Council is conducting.

The Wildings told the Council that the "Basement Youth Trust has been successful for many years in maintaining an open access Youth Club based in the Y Zone building in Hill Street.

"The Youth Service will cease to exist from this summer and there is a youth review looking at how the County Council staff operate and disposition of the 'asset' which is the building."

They said that one outcome could be they are asked to pay rent, which BYT could not afford or the club could be moved to the John Kyrle High School site. This was part of a suggestion to move all youth and leisure facilities to the school site, discussed by Herefordshire Council cabinet in October 2011.

They said:?"The majority of young people who attend sessions at the Y Zone would not be comfortable attending a facility in the school and closure of the Y Zone could lead to problems in the town similar to those that led to the start of the BYT in 1995."

The Wilding's asked the Town Council for their response to the situation and what they will contribute to the review.

Councillor Andrew Atkinson said:?"I care about the youth service in the town and was privy to information as a County Councillor which I was unable to disclose. John Kyrle wants to progress their plans and we need to bring everyone involved into the loop."

Councillor Bartrum added:?"This is a very awkward and difficult situation but the information is in the public domain. Solutions may not be palatable but we are trying to achieve the best for Ross."

Councillor Jane Roberts said:?"We have been talking about localism which means involving local people not cooking up a plan regarding assets and presenting it as a done deal."

Councillor Phil Cutter said:?"Localism is already happening in Ross." He referred to the Tudorville Centre and the Sports Centre, but he added that there has to be sound financial management.

Councillor John Edwards said:?"This is another Chestnuts situation, arranged by councillors and council officers without proper consultation, is some secret deal already made."

Councillor Atkins said:?"This is completely different to the Chestnuts and I hope everyone will be able to discuss their views."

Keith Wilding added:?"I do not understand councils but I do understand the youth club. I know that if it moves to John Kyrle, the youngsters will not go back to school at night. This is a safe place for them to be and we will lose them."

Councillor Bartrum suggested that the matter should be discussed by the policy and management committee. The town clerk will also arrange a meeting with Ross Rural Parish Council and Richard Gabb, Deputy Director of Homes and Communities to gain further information.