PLANS for one just one council-run youth centre in each of Kent’s 12 districts are likely to be in place by next January.

Following a consultation period from August to October last year, Kent County Council (KCC) has decided it will press ahead with its proposals to replace the current system with one Youth Hub in each district, supported by commissioned services.

KCC said it had 700 responses to the consultation, with nearly a third coming from 13 to 15-year-olds, and that there was a roughly equal split between those for and against the proposals.

No decision will be made yet about which youth clubs will be retained, although under the original proposals Youth hubs would be at the Thames Gateway YMCA in Dartford, Northfleet Youth Centre in Gravesham and Swanley Youth Centre – the Junction – in Sevenoaks.

In response to the consultation, a community group in Gravesham said: “Northfleet is a good centre in a good location, but geographically a little isolated.”

A Gravesham resident said: “Losing Miracles Youth Centre would be a retrograde step and could result detrimentally to the whole community, especially youths.”

A Dartford resident said: “Swan Valley should be the hub due to the safe nature of the site. If you looked at the YMCA, it is surrounded by busy roads and had not got a place on site for playing outdoor games.”

Each district would have a Community Youth Tutor based in a school and a borough-wide Detached Project. Other youth services would depend on the willingness of other groups to run them.

The change is set to save KCC £1 million, and 65 youth worker jobs – a quarter of the workforce - could be lost, although KCC insisted it is not a money saving measure. The new structure is due to be in place next January.

KCC Cabinet member for Customer and Communities, Councillor Mike Hill said: “Discussions will now take place in each district and borough to look at exactly what youth provision is needed and how it might be delivered in each area.

"I hope local communities and particularly young people will continue to take part in this journey over the coming months to shape sustainable youth services for the future."