Protesters' street march over Ludlow youth centre plans
Teenagers and youth workers marched through Ludlow to the headquarters of the town's Conservative Party to protest against plans to use their youth centre as offices for Shropshire Council staff.
About 30 young people and youth workers braved the rain to picket outside the Conservative HQ, in Broad Street, during MP Philip Dunne's constituency surgery.
Chanting "No ifs, not buts, no youth centre cuts", they demanded a meeting with the MP.
The protesters claim two thirds of the Ludlow Youth Centre building on Lower Gladeford would be taken for use as offices if council staff are moved from Stone House in Corve Street.
Sammy Powell, who uses the building with Working Together, a charity for young people with learning disabilities, said: "Shropshire Council has closed its offices and moving people into the youth centre.
"It's taken us 25 years to get Ludlow Youth Centre.
"Shrewsbury has four youth centres, now we'll have a third of one."
Mr Dunne invited some of the protesters inside to hear their concerns.
Afterwards, Alex Clewlow, 16, a student at Ludlow College and a youth service user said:
"If we can't go to the youth centre, where are we going to be? In the pubs, in the parks?"
Ruth Dye, 28, a former youth worker and service user said: "Kids are going to be back on the streets and back in trouble.
"It's somewhere where our kids can be safe and be creative, it's important."
Mayor of Ludlow Councillor Jim Smithers joined the protesters, along with Lib Dem Councillors Richard Huffer (Clee area) and Tracey Huffer (Ludlow East).
Mayor Smithers said: "As Mayor of Ludlow I don't think we should be cutting the youth centre down. Let's face it there's not much in Ludlow for young people to do.
"As a Town Council we've just voted to give more money to the South Shropshire Youth Forum, and now we've seen them do this.
"It's a short term gain and nothing else.
"I was in the council that first opened the youth centre, now they just seem to be taking it away again. We've got the facilities and we should be encouraging them to use it."
Lib Dem Shropshire Councillor for the Clee area, Richard Huffer said: "With the position Shropshire Council finds itself in it seems to be selling off the silverware.
"We understand the financial position but its totally unfair to expect the youth to pick up the tab."
Neither Shropshire Council nor Mr Dunne were available for comment.
