Wanstead Youth Centre petition signed almost 4,000 times

Save Our Wanstead Youth Centre Campaign Group aims to postpone the closure of Wanstead Youth Centre which it says is "vital" to the community.

Redbridge Council's public consultation on the closure of the Elmcroft Avenue venue closed on Monday (March 13).

According to the council, the centre "could become unsafe without significant investment", which would cost upwards of £2.4 million.

The council added that it subsidises the cost of private organisations renting the centre, at a cost of £86,000 every year.

As an alternative, it is proposing to shut the centre by May with Kids In Charge remaining on site until September.

Members of the campaign group and the council attended a public meeting on March 7.

Leah and Luke Steedman, both aged 7, and their mother, Jenny Steedman, are hoping to save the youth centre (Image: Jenny Steedman)

Kate Sloan, a member of Save Our Wanstead Youth Centre Campaign Group, said: "There's not really another centre like it in the borough.

"Young people go there - there's police cadets, gymnastics, all the members of the community and there's a disability group as well.

"So, it’s a really vital space for lots of people."

Kate claimed there were no other spaces within a reasonable distance for the groups currently using the centre.

She continued: "If the centre closes, those activities essentially have to end.

"It’s a really valuable community asset and people can't go somewhere else."

Kate also felt the centre was particularly important for young people's safety.

"When we had the public meeting, a few of the 15-year-olds that use the centre spoke about their mental health and what it means to have a space like this.

"They need safe spaces like the youth centre - they were explaining the negative impact it would have on them for that space to close."

She said her campaign group is looking for a 12-month period where the council and its leisure partner Vision, which runs the youth centre, could "meaningfully consult with the community" and look for other sources of funding.

A spokesperson for Redbridge Council said: "We ran a consultation process regarding Wanstead Youth Centre that concluded yesterday.

"Alongside engaging with individuals and groups who hire slots at the centre, we are currently examining the consultation responses we have received to help determine the next steps."

Kate added that as the petition has passed the 1,500 signature threshold, it could be debated at the next full council meeting on March 23.