St Helens Council has outlined proposals to close and demolish New Street Community Centre and replace it with a team of youth workers.

A council spokesman said: "The council recently finished a review of youth and community provision. As a result the council is moving away from investing in buildings and plans to spend money putting people into communities to work with local people.

The council's executive has agreed to provide area youth workers to work with young people. The new system will replace the council's existing community centre service. As part of the strategy New Street Centre, which is in a poor state of repair and a target for vandals, will be demolished."

But Liberal Democrat councillor for Marshalls Cross, John Beirne has highlighted concerns over the proposals. "They should have consulted the residents before any such proposals were mooted," he said.

"After the closure of New Street library a couple of years ago, if this closes there will be nothing for the people of Sutton and Marshalls Cross. Old age pensioners, toddlers and groups who use the centre will just disappear. I am encouraging people to write to the council and complain about the situation. As far as I am aware, there are a couple of mothers on the estate who have already set up a petition."

The council issued a further statement which said: "Other services overviews and scrutiny panels, which consists of representatives from all political parties, were unanimous in their support for the new strategy for young people."