Shropshire Star

Town steps in to help young people

Oswestry Town Council has stepped into save the amount of youth service provision in the town.

Published

Shropshire Council budget cuts had meant there would be a shortfall of £5,500 from April to pay for the two, two hour sessions for young people held each week in Oswestry.

The unitary authority wrote to the town council asking if it would meet that shortfall.

At Monday's town council meeting councillors voted unanimously to give the funding.

Mayor, Councillor Vince Hunt, said the young people of the town deserved the money.

"Oswestry Town Council does exceptionally well for its young people," he said.

Oswestry also has the best youth facilities in Shropshire at The Centre in Oak Street," he said.

Green party member, Councillor Duncan Kerr said it was a shame that the town council had not agreed earlier in the year to the nine per cent increase in the town's precept on the council tax that the Greens had put forward.

That way, he said, there would have been money to support the youth services and money to cover inflation.

"Our young people do not deserve to take the cut," he said.

"It would have been an extra 5p a week."

Conservative, Councillor Chris Schofield said the council had voted, democratically, for a four per cent increase in council tax after hearing that the sum would cover inflation and allow £5,500 for youth services.

Youth funding for villages in the Oswestry area have also been given a reprieve after Shropshire Council changed its mind about axing the money given to rural areas in favour of only major towns.

It voted to set up a pot of funding for rural areas to bid for grants.

Shropshire Councillor Steve Davenport, said today he was delighted at the decision.

"Young people living in rural areas need funding more than anyone as they do not have the facilities or the public transport to access them."