Ref. 75833-2YOUTH CLUB organisers are furious about being kept in the dark over the future of their organisation.

Mavis Read, treasurer of Toothill Junior Youth Club, claims the council is intending to close down Toothill Farm Social Centre, in Bodian Drive, where they run the club.

And they have gathered 600 signatures petitioning against the closure.

Almost all the other organisations, which are based at the farmhouse, have been moved to new premises and the caretaker has been told he will no longer have a job from March 31.

But the youth club received their usual booking form at the start of the year and have had no word of any changes afoot.

Miss Read, 61, said: "It's all been dealt with in a devious way. We're shocked to say the least. We got our block booking on January 11, just like normal. But they must have known about this for some time. They've moved all the other groups apart form Alcoholics Anonymous out of the building. They kept it quite hush hush and moved them all out."

The youth club is used by 35 children aged between five to 12 every Friday night, from 7-9pm. Miss Read says she is worried what will happen to them if they have nowhere to go.

"Facilities for youngsters round here are scarce enough. If people think Asbo's are cheaper than running a youth club then they're wrong," she said. "But the petition's going really well. No one in Toothill has refused to sign it."

In a desperate attempt to get to the bottom of the situation the club organisers have called on Michael Wills, Labour MP for North Swindon to help.

Mr Wills has written to the council asking them to confirm what their plans are with Toothill Farm and to ensure the club will be offered alternative accommodation if it closes.

Crystal Love, 15, joined the youth club when she was four.

She is now a member of the junior committee which helps run the club.

She said: "It's not on if they close it down. It's the only place they can go and they'd have nothing.

"Some of them might be able to go to the Link Centre if their parents could take them but some could start getting into trouble."

The Adver contacted the council over their plans for Toothill Farm over several days but failed to receive a response.

Gareth Bethell