YOUNG people in the Warndon Villages area of Worcester are to be consulted about whether or not they wish to keep a £10,000 youth shelter.

As we reported last week, there have been calls for the youth shelter at Lyppard Grange to be removed after it was described as no longer fit for purpose.

Young people in Warndon Villages will now be asked if they want to keep the shelter.

If not, it could be moved to another area where it is wanted.

It follows concerns that the shelter no longer attracts young people.

Mo Walker, manager of the Lyppard Grange Community Centre, said it had become a piece of “messy, graffitied equipment”.

Ms Walker has spoken to Andy Roberts, Warndon parish councillor and Worcestershire county councillor for Warndon, about the issue.

Coun Roberts said he had concerns about the shelter when it was first installed in 2005.

“I went out and spoke to young people at that time – it wasn’t popular with them and they didn’t want it,” he said.

“Then it was decided to spend more money on it so I’ve never been tremendously keen on it.

“Now the centre has asked for it to be removed.”

Coun Roberts addressed a recent meeting of Warndon Parish Council where it was agreed that councillors would not object to the shelter being removed.

He said the next step would be to speak to young people in the area to see if they have “any love for the place” and would also be working with Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member with responsibility for children and young people’s social care for Worcestershire County Council, to discuss the best use for the shelter.

Coun Eyre said the shelters were “hugely popular” in other places.

She said: “I would be interested to hear the views of young people about it.

“The local member is working with me in connection with it and should it not be wanted there we will ask around to see if someone else wants it.

“It would be a shame though, they are ideal for what they are intended for, as a place for young people to congregate.”