Nailsea Youth House ‘will not be closed’

A TOP North Somerset councillor has confirmed that ‘Nailsea Youth House will not be closed’ after rumours spread through the town that the authority was considering shutting it down.

Worried youngsters wrote to Nailsea Town Council this week to appeal for its support to keep Nailsea Youth House open after they heard rumours that it could close.

In a letter to the council, Abigail Bush said: “We would be very unhappy if Nailsea Youth House closed down because we would have nowhere to go to meet our friends, especially in the winter.

“We learn a lot of new skills here and you get the chance to be with other people not your age, which is a bonus. If you closed it down we would not have this very enjoyable place.”

A volunteer who helps with the social group for children with special needs also wrote in to appeal for the centre to be kept open.

Alice Dobie said: “This club is the only time many of the children have to socialise and gain many life skills, cooking being a favourite of our young people.

“I understand that Nailsea Youth House could be shut or have its funding cut and this should not happen for lots of different reasons.

“The club gives children a sense of independence as they are free to do a variety of activities with people their own age joining in to help and support them when needed.”

Nailsea Town Council will be considering the letters at its meeting on Wednesday, but Jeremy Blatchford, North Somerset Council’s executive member for children and young people’s services has quashed the rumours stating that Nailsea Youth House is safe.

He said: “Nailsea Youth House is secure for the foreseeable future. We have no intention of shutting it down.”

Nailsea Youth House is based in High Street and holds after school clubs, sexual health clinics and sessions for people with additional needs.

It also puts on a wide range of activities for the youngsters including music sessions, dance workshops and cooking classes.