STAFF resignations at Elstead Youth Club have resulted in its closure after 30 years.

The Surrey County Council-run service held its final meeting last week, but its organisers hope to revive it if new staff can be found.

According to Reverend William Lang, chairman of the club's management committee, one staff member was making a career change, and the others then said they could not continue.

He said many of the club's 50 youngsters had expressed their dismay to him during the last meeting at its village hall base.

His main fear was that Surrey County Council might not fund replacement staff members in light of a pending review of youth services.

"The club was working well, and though there were not an enormous numbers coming to it, it was important to the children who did come along," he said.

Rev Lang added that support from the county council had "ebbed away".

"Like a lot of things, it became overly bureaucratic, and made us think why we are actually here, and that is for the children."

He acknowledged it would be hard to recruit new staff but said they were "going to try to find a way of carrying on" and appealed for support from anyone who is able to assist.

Peter Hartley, of the youth club committee, added they were aiming to reopen the centre in January of next year.

Commenting on the closure, Graham Combe, head of Surrey County Council Youth Development, said: "It is unfortunate we have lost the small team of staff who did an excellent job at the youth club. This is particularly so as in recent years we have had problems recruiting staff in many locations.

"We will now review youth provision in Elstead during the next two to three months, and will work closely with the club's management committee in considering the best options for the future."

An emergency meeting of the club is being held on Wednesday (August 14) at 8 pm in St James Church Room in a bid to revive its fortunes.

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If anyone is interested in offering assistance, contact Peter Hartley on (01252) 703461.