A COMMUNITY leader has hit out at the provision for youngsters in Rubery after village youth club sessions were slashed from four per week to just one.

Councillor Peter McDonald (Lab-Waseley) said he was not surprised young people hung around the streets because they did not have anywhere else to go.

Last Thursday the Rubery Youth and Community Centre hosted a session giving young people the right to reply to claims they simply hang around and cause a nuisance.

"Youth provision in Rubery is pathetic. I was astounded to find out the centre is now only open to youngsters once a week, when it used to be open for four," said Cllr McDonald.

"There are more than 1,500 young people living in Rubery and nothing for them to do for six days of the week that doesn't cost an arm and a leg."

He said teenagers complained that now the youth club was only open once a week the only other option was hanging around the streets.

They could not afford to constantly go ten-pin bowling or to the nearby cinema.

"I have written to the head of the youth service demanding an immediate explanation for the harvesting of hours," he said.

"It appears they are trying to push most of the community out of the centre and now they are shutting out the youth. It is absolute deplorable."

On Saturday night councillors McDonald and Colin Wilson held a youth forum to tackle the issue.

Dave Evans, Worcestershire County Council's youth operations officer, said: "We have been a bit erratic in our opening times over the last few weeks but this has been down to training up new staff so we can offer as broad programme to young people as possible.

"We will properly reopen again on the week beginning January 5 when we hope to offer many more sessions."