Youth club future hangs in balance

If no-one comes forward to form a new committee to resurrect the club, it will be closed for good and it's building sold.

The Salford Priors Youth Club building off School Avenue has not been used for the past 18 months due to a short fall of helpers and lack of interest from youngsters.

Seventy-four-year old Reg Francis, who was president of the club for 30 years, said: "The kids are not interested because there's not enough at the club for them. That's to do with lack of funds and lack of adult support. We are calling a meeting on March 3 to discuss the closure of Salford Priors Youth Club and the disposal of its assets. If anybody comes to that meeting and decides to form a committee and take it on we'd be only too pleased. We've had little help from Warwickshire County Council over the years and I'm disgusted to be honest."

Mr Frances felt that because Salford Priors was smaller than Stratford, it got left out of funding projects. He added: "Our committee now has five or six members and they've had enough. It's a make or break meeting but if we close the place down and get rid of it, in a couple of years time youngsters will turn around and say there isn't anything to do in the village and it's a job to start up again. I hope someone comes forward to take the club over but I'm not very hopeful."

Robert McCluskey, Warwickshire area community education officer said: "To my knowledge we have not had any requests for support from this youth club but if they were to contact us we would happily listen to their needs and see what we could do to help. We aim to provide as much provision as is possible around the entire county, be it in a village, town and do the best we can within limited resources."

The club used to open one night a week and teenagers could play outdoor games, tennis and pool.

The meeting on its future takes place at Salford Priors Memorial Hall, School Road, Salford Priors on Thursday, March 3 at 7.30pm.