Parents say policy-makers at Kent County Council “should be ashamed of themselves” as a consultation on cuts to youth club services comes to an end.

Among the plans being floated in the shake-up, which could see funding axed to 80 organisations for young people, are proposals to replace nine different provisions run by the Swale Youth Consortium (SYC) with centralised ‘family hubs’.

In total SYC hosts some 2,000 young people in a range of different activities.

Swale council has voiced opposition to the proposals, stating that anti-social behaviour will get “worse” in the borough.

Emma Bennett’s son uses the youth club in Sheerness which she says stops him “roaming the streets”

She said: “To take youth services away now, especially as times are hard for families, is wrong on all accounts.

“This is the only youth centre in Sheerness and has helped countless children through the years. KCC should be ashamed of themselves.”

Another parent, Caz Conneller, says the cuts seem “crazy” and pleaded with KCC to “reconsider”.

She said: “This is a fantastic service for young people.

“My daughter loves it and has a safe place to socialise. It seems crazy to cut a service doing such good in the community.”

Swale council raised its concerns in a letter to Kent’s cabinet member for communities and regulatory services, Cllr Clair Bell, to voice its opposition to the proposals.

Cllr Richard Palmer, who represents, Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch, said the cuts will lead to higher anti-social behaviour across the borough.

He said: “We already experience a high level of youth-related antisocial behaviour and crime, without the opportunities offered by youth services this is likely to get even worse.

“We firmly believe that the proposal to stop youth activities in Swale would have a very negative effect on our communities.

“Swale doesn’t have one central town so every area and town, even the most rural, must have access to the same level of service and this is unlikely to be achieved with the current proposal.

“The proposed hubs would be in Sittingbourne, Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey. For Sheppey in particular, the proposed location in Queenborough is a key concern due to transport links across the Island.”

The cuts come amid a flood of reports of anti-social behaviour in the borough.

In July a grandmother from Queenborough spoke of her horror after witnessing ‘feral’ kids stoning a duck to death, just weeks after a cancer patient missed an important appointment after youths trashed his car in a suspected revenge attack after he challenged them for using catapults on local homes and wildlife.

Meanwhile, a Chalkwell bus driver called the police due to Sittingbourne Bus Hub due to anti-social youths.

The town’s KFC has even banned groups of teenagers from going in the restaurant at weekends, due to the trouble.

Gravesham council has also hit out at plans to cut youth services stating it will cause “irreparable” damage.

In a statement, the council raised “serious concerns” over the KCC proposals for changes to its family hubs, specifically the impact it would cause by cancelling its youth contract with The Grand.

This comes after youth groups protested against the plans outside County Hall in Maidstone last month.

KCC’s consultation to introduce ‘family hubs’ that would replace youth provision services ends tomorrow (Wednesday, September 13).

Some 80 youth services are likely to shut in the attempt to save £913,000 as part of KCC’s bid to shave £58 million off its budget by February.

To view the consultation click here.

KCC’s cabinet member for integrated children’s services, Sue Chandler, has encouraged young people and their families to engage in the consultation.

She said: “We will continue to provide KCC services for young people and their families, which would remain a mix of activity within KCC centres and outreach locations.

“We will also continue to develop community-based youth work by supporting existing local volunteer-led groups. We will develop services specifically for families of young people, targeting where there is greatest need.

“We would encourage young people and families that might be affected by this proposal to take part in our family hubs consultation so that we can understand their views on what the proposed changes would mean.”