A NEYLAND county councillor has reassured local people that the town will not lose its youth club, despite a county council proposal to cut services.

Youth clubs across Pembrokeshire are currently waiting to hear their fate, after a recommendation to cut youth service provisions across the county was ‘called in’ for further discussion by the chairman of the Children and Families overview and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Simon Hancock, who represents the Neyland East ward, has said Neyland Youth Club will not be closed down in Easter 2015, nor will it be transferred out of the town.

“True, the number of sessions are to be reduced to two - the same number as for Haverfordwest - but this is on account of a 50 per cent drop in the number of young people attending the club in just over three years,” said Cllr Hancock.

He added that he would “fight hard” to ensure that the club be relocated to the PRIDE building near the High Street car park, and be “specifically branded as the new youth club”.

“If there is increased attendance as a result of the rebranding I have secured the agreement of officers to add an additional session bringing the total up to three,” he added.

He said the old youth club, together with the disused day centre and infants’ school, and the land to the rear, presented “an excellent regeneration possibility for the town of Neyland”.

“The county council is sure to realise a significant amount from any sale,” he said.

“At cabinet I warned my colleagues that if and when that occurred I would be reminding them of further investment in the opportunities for young people in Neyland in the interests of fairness to the community.”

The recommendation, which included proposals to close Hakin and Hubberston youth centre, were estimated to save around £56,000.

The savings target for youth services across the county is £125,000.