IN the face of fierce public outcry Northumberland County Council has backed down on its controversial decision to close Prudhoe’s East Centre.

County council leader, Coun. Grant Davey says he has ‘halted’ the sale of the town’s beloved facility.

Councillors, residents and young people reacted with fury to last week’s shock news that the youth centre had been put up for sale.

The county council planned to transfer services from the 52-year-old youth centre to the Fuse Media Centre on Moor Road.

The East Centre, on Front Street, was to be sold once vacant, and for sale signs were already in place last week.

However, residents and town councillors reacted with fury to the decision, which was made with no consultation with the community; even staff at the centre were left in the dark.

In the wake of such widespread opposition, county councillors for Prudhoe, Coun. Eileen Burt and Coun. Tony Reid called on the county council leader to intervene.

Northumberland County Council say that the decision was made to transfer services in a bid to secure the future of The Fuse centre.

Coun. Davey said: “It’s a pity that the shared arrangements in Prudhoe have engendered so much opposition but I have decided to halt this change following an appeal by our members in Prudhoe.

“Retaining the East Centre as a youth facility may require some additional help from Prudhoe Town Council, over and above their current, very generous grant.”

For more on this story, pick up the Hexham Courant on Friday.