A budget move which will see a Forfar youth centre vacated has been criticised by a town councillor.
The council’s lease on the No 1 For Youth centre on West High Street runs out in August and will not be renewed, as part of its multi-million-pound savings.
In the budget savings proposal report, education officials indicated that the service the centre provided will be delivered “by another means,” but Forfar SNP councillor Glennis Middleton fears the worst.
No 1 For Youth has welcomed young people from across the world, and been praised by many visitors including top-level politicians.
Mrs Middleton said, “I have two concerns, one of which is that there is quite a prominent building on West High Street which will become empty, and that is not something I like to see in the centre of Forfar.
“But I have also voiced my concerns with the director of education in quite a strong manner over the way the services which have been so successfully delivered through No 1 For Youth will be provided in the future.”
She added, “It is always positive to see young people going in there to access information and attend the events and activities and I do not believe it has been made clear how exactly this service will be provided in the future.”
Mrs Middleton added, “In the course of the budget meeting I made my concerns clear that changes were not clearly laid out and did not consider that a line stating ‘provide the service by another means at this time’ in relation to No 1 For Youth was a sufficient explanation.
“Given that there will be a change is strategy in terms of how this service is going to be delivered in the future if it is not from this premises, I would have expected a report to come before us.”