by political editor Paul Francis

The Archbishop of Canterbury has added his support to campaigners who fear some of Kent’s youth clubs are facing the axe in budget cuts.

Dr Rowan Williams has expressed his backing in response to a letter from a campaigner concerned that a youth centre in east Kent could shut.

His intervention comes as consultation on the county council’s far-reaching plans for the whole of Kent’s youth service comes to an end this week. The shake-up could mean up to 12 youth centres closing and KCC handing over the job of running services for 131,000 young people to the private and voluntary sector.

In his reply to a letter inviting him to sign a petition to support Aylesham Youth Club, near Dover, Dr Williams writes: "It is so crucial to reserve decent youth services at the moment given the strains young people face and I wish you every success in your resistance to the closure."

He goes on to say that while he does not normally sign petitions "I’m happy to express my support and I know that others, including my chaplain in Canterbury, are exploring what more might be done to support your community."

Under KCC’s plans, youth centres that are no longer required or are not taken over by other providers could be sold.

The re-organisation involves the establishment of just one centre for each district, acting as a hub for services across the area. It has been dogged by controversy and triggered an angry debate at County Hall last week, as the political parties traded claim and counter claim.

Opposition Labour leader Cllr Gordon Cowan urged KCC to scrap the plans. He said users of two youth centres in Dover and Deal - Linwood and Aylesham youth clubs - faced a nine mile trip to get to the proposed ‘hub’ centre at Archers Court.

"It will be extremely difficult for anyone to get there. These proposals will save less than £1m - not much compared to the overall budget with £157m in reserves and £5m in a Big Society fund untouched."

But Cllr Mike Hill (Con) cabinet member for communities, retorted: "There are no plans to close Deal and Aylesham. There are no plans to downgrade youth centres. We are seizing the opportunity to modernise the youth service and deliver a truly modern organisation."