AROUND 200 people marched in Ystradgynlais last Wednesday to save a youth centre which was due to close for the last time last Thursday.

The campaign group SOSYstrad, which was set up in February by the voluntary Ystradgynlais Community Centre Committee, organised the peaceful protest which went from the youth club’s car park to Jeff Hill on Wednesday evening.

Powys County Council announced the closure of Penrhos Youth Centre, which is regularly attended by 80-100 children on Friday nights, at the end of 2017 in order to save money.

The group of volunteers and the campaign started in a bid to save the youth centre, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in March, and to bring its premises into community ownership as a new community centre.

Jessie Roberts, a member of SOSYstrad, said: “The march was really good, about two hundred people turned up and it was just everything we wanted.

“The police were amazing, we had a police van in front of us and a police car behind us.”

Ms Roberts said that the march, which was also attended by Ystradgynlais Town Council councillors Tristan Davies, Richard Millington and Wayne Thomas, had included tee shirts and banners.

She said that during the march the group were receiving messages of support online and even had residents coming out of their homes to cheer the protesters on and chat.

Ystrad AFC, who are based next to the youth centre, also joined the protest through the town.

Ms Roberts said: “They were brilliant, they brought out the mic which they normally use on the pitch so we could use it in the protest which was very nice.”

The campaigners had a meeting with Mr Davies and Rob Lock from Ystradgynlais Town Council and Sarah Williams, Sandra Davies and David Thomas from Powys County Councillors at the Youth Centre before the march.

Ms Roberts said: “It felt like we were finally making progress, one of the councillors who I don’t have the permission to name has managed to push back the closing date for us until Friday, August 31.

“He has done more for us in two days than what has happened in two months. This does feel like the closest we’ve got to saving the centre for the last five months.”

The group had previously complained that Powys County Council had given them “false hope” around saving the centre.

The committee said they were angry that they had been offered a chance but since only been met with “constant hurdles” which included the offer of limiting month by month licensing agreement.

The cabinet member for property councillor Phyl Davies has since said that the license was offered to give the group an opportunity to run the building and provide a “clear demonstration that he building was sustainable” and that they had the “relevant knowledge and competencies” to manage the building safely.

He said that while the license does require the local group to pay all utility bills and charges including maintenance costs, the council retains responsibility of carrying out all “statutory testing”.

Mr Davies said: “Granting a lease is considered to be more appropriate where potential tenants are well-established bodies, such as town or community councils. They also need to demonstrate via a business case that they have a track record in managing assets and resources.

“The advantages of an initial licence is that it allows a newly formed group to try and run and manage a building without the risk associated with taking on a full tenancy.”

One of SOSYstrad’s concerns was that, unlike in other towns, a suitable venue had not been found for the 80-100 local children who attend on a Thursday and Friday evening.

Powys County Council also responded to say that it has the full intention of keeping youth provisions in the area.

The cabinet member for youth services, councillor Rachel Powell, said that while the county council were going to get rid of the building, they did not intend to withdraw youth services.

She said: “We are not intending to withdraw youth services in the area. When the cabinet announced changes to youth service delivery, it was very clear that activities would continue as before but the venues would change.

“Our intent is to keep providing youth club sessions for young people but in the most cost-effective way possible. Owning and maintaining buildings that are used only for a few hours a week is not a sustainable way to achieve this.”

She said that if the community committee could not take over the building, the local youth officers would be charged with finding other venues for running youth sessions.

She said: “It is the choice of venue that is being considered and not whether young people will be supported by their local youth workers.”