A Royston woman has set up an online petition to save a popular town youth club from closure.

After reading the Crow’s front page last week about the closure of Burns Road Hangout, Samantha Gilby, detachment commander of Ware army cadet force, decided action needed to be taken to keep the community facility open.

She said: “When I was young I used to go to these youth clubs.

“I think it’s important for kids to have something to do. Otherwise kids just stay in and play games.

“It’s not something that I would dismiss running myself. I live a few minutes away from Burns Road, so if it could continue, I’d want to send my baby Bailey, who is six months old, there in the future.

“I think it’s sad that the council can spend so much money on things that aren’t really so important when more investment should be spent on educating and developing our children’s future.”

Kasia Kotulska, whose children went to the hangout, said: “I am happy to see that people who seemingly have nothing at stake, care enough to get involved and be proactive. I was happy to see the petition set up by Samantha Gilby, and I would encourage all local people to sign it and share it with others.”

North Herts District Councillor Tony Hunter said: “The major issue in keeping the youth club open is sustaining professional staffing. Like many small projects, we have found it difficult to sustain permanent staff when we are only able to offer very limited part time hours.

“Four out of the five experienced members of the team have recently moved on to other opportunities and we haven’t been able to find replacements with the wealth of knowledge and experience required to run the club and provide a safe and secure environment for the youngsters who attend.

“We are supportive of the online petition that has been set up and would encourage organisations who feel they may be able to help provide the Burns Road Hangout with a sustainable future to contact NHDC’s active communities manager.”

You can contact Helen Rae on 01462 474333 or email Helen.Rae@north-herts.gov.uk.

To sign the petition, click here.