Yo-Yo drop-in centre at risk
February 17, 2006 6:00 PM
Young people appreciate the YoYo centre for after-school activities.
Liberal Democrat campaigner Julie Morris is outraged that the service cuts proposed under Tory-controlled Surrey County Council's Business Delivery Review (BDR) include not only Ewell Court Library, but also the Yo-Yo "drop-in" centre for young people in Epsom town centre. She said: "I simply cannot believe they are considering this as an option. Youth services are already under-funded and they should be improving things rather than making cuts. Epsom town centre is already full of young people with nothing to do in the evenings. Do we want more on the streets bored, involved in misdemeanours and taking up police time?"
Julie Morris continued: "What is our borough council going to do about this? Last year it carried out a review of services in the borough, but as yet nothing has changed. Apparently a youth shelter is under way, but that's no compensation for the loss of a permanent building. Our borough council is controlled by the Residents group and they need to stand up to the Tories at County Hall and challenge these decisions, because cutting expenditure on libraries and youth centres is a very backward step."
"Young people used to be a priority for both our councils. Are they not important any more?" she asked.
Ironically, the County Council claims it wants to concentrate its efforts on youth work in town centres. The Yo-Yo drop-in centre is in South Street, right on the Epsom town centre one-way system.