Lib Dem Acts to Protect Community Youth Services (St Albans Liberal Democrats)

St Albans Liberal Democrats <info@stalbanslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem Acts to Protect Community Youth Services

December 21, 2011 1:36 PM

In a first for the County Council, St Albans North Lib Dem Councillor Allan Witherick has secured a review of the decision by the Conservative Executive at County Hall to sell off a significant plot of land in St Albans, the Ariston Site on Harpenden Road, by the County Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee, through the "Councillor Call for Action" procedure.

As a result of Cllr Witherick's successful request, there will now be a full-day meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in January to review the decision to sell off the Ariston Site - which borders Bernard's Heath and currently houses the Judo Club and The Pioneer club (including the Skateboard Park) - and make any further recommendations to Cabinet.

Allan Witherick said "Along with a number of my Lib Dem colleagues, I wrote to the County Executive in November to request that they don't sell off the land, which is home to The Pioneer, the skateboard park and the Judo Club. It is also the last significant plot that could be used - one way or another - to address the serious problem of school place provision in the city, which is a separate issue that we have been campaigning on for a number of years.

"The Conservatives at County Hall have apparently decided to abdicate any responsibility, making no provision whatsoever for non-statutory community groups and relying on vague assurances from the District Council's Conservative administration that the youth groups would still be protected. The land has been marked for disposal for over 10 years, in which time the long-term leases used by The Pioneer and the Judo Club have expired. Turfing them out now would simply produce an immediate and substantial profit at the expense of the local community and our young people.

"Unlike a local Conservative District Councillor, who doesn't seem to think that a review is worth the time, I will continue to work with local groups - and any other interested parties - to ensure that the County Council looks after these important organisations and doesn't sacrifice them in pursuit of profit from the sale of this important site."