Royston Young People's Centre, which has not been used for several years, is being closed permanently due to "significant financial challenges".

Herts County Council made the decision to permanently close the centre to save money which can be spent on other services for children and young people.

The centre, which is on the site of King James Academy in Garden Walk, has not been used for four years due to problems with the building - but work had been under way to bring it back into use.

Royston Crow: Royston West and Rural Cllr Steve JarvisRoyston West and Rural Cllr Steve Jarvis (Image: North Herts Council)

Cllr Steve Jarvis, Liberal Democrat councillor for Royston West and Rural at Herts County Council, said: "This is part of a massive cut that the Conservatives are making in the council’s services for young people, with nearly a quarter of young people’s sessions expected to be cut.

"These sessions are already limited to children and young people who need them most so these cuts will impact some of the most vulnerable young people across the county.

“Royston will be particularly badly affected with the loss of the only youth services building in the town.

"Buntingford’s Young People’s Centre is also being closed, so the nearest base will be in Letchworth or Stevenage.

Royston Crow: Royston Young People's Centre was based at King James AcademyRoyston Young People's Centre was based at King James Academy (Image: Google Street View)

"The local Services for Young People staff have been doing a great job organising events elsewhere in the town but the permanent loss of the young people’s centre is bad news for the town and the surrounding villages."

The changes - which also include reductions in staff, increased charges to schools for careers information and guidance, and cuts to school holiday programmes - were agreed by the council's cabinet on Monday, December 4.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: "Like all councils we face significant financial challenges which means we have to make some difficult decisions in order to protect and deliver services for the long-term.  

"We are investing an extra £19m in Children’s Services this year, including £5.2m to support children in our care and £10m for home-to-school transport for children with SEND.

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"Continuing to invest in these areas of significant demand and cost pressure has meant that we also need to create savings across our services and redesign our youth services.

“The changes agreed by our cabinet are intended to provide more targeted youth services including for those at risk of not being in education, training or work, and to change how we deliver our young people’s services so that they work more closely with schools."

The council also explained the cost of fixing the building, adding: "The young people’s centre in Royston has not been operational for the last four years due to the condition of the building, and it would require significant investment to make it fit for purpose, so formally closing the centre is one of the least painful ways for us to make the saving we need to make our services for young people financially sustainable.

"Although we are closing the building, we will continue to deliver two weekly youth work projects from other sites in Royston."