Local services are being axed by Sutton’s Liberal Democrat Council to fund the controversial £8.5million Sutton Life Centre being built in Alcorn Close. Three youth clubs have been shut down in the last three years, including Centre 21 which was demolished to make way for the Life Centre. Ridge Road Library is soon to be scrapped with some of its library functions replaced by a smaller service in the Centre. Stonecot Conservative council candidate Eliza Philippidis, a mother of a teenage girl herself, has recently taken the Council to task by asking questions about the effectiveness of the costly Life Centre. Eliza says “I believe youth provision that works must include continual engagement and the opportunity to create positive relationships with adult role models. It does not mean costly facilities. I will fight to find and implement schemes that work in engaging youth in Stonecot.”

1st February 2010