For the past 40 years thousands of youngsters have used Bryntysilio, the council’s activity centre near Llangollen in Wales, now its future has been thrown in doubt by Walsall’s Tory cabinet member for Finance Chris Towe.

He has asked the councill’s scrutiny panel to “look at switching activities to more local facilities at Shrugborough on the edge of Cannock Chase”. He paraphrases this by saying that children were the primary concern rather than money. If that were the case it’s no contest, Bryntysilio wins hands down.

Let’s be clear about this, when a Tory Cabinet member, particularly one whose portfolio is finance, asks a scrutiny panel to “look at the possibility of switching activity to a more local facility” they are already contemplating closure and are looking to fob the decision off to someone else.

What makes matters worse is that the Tories on Walsall Council act as “poacher and gamekeeper”, not only do they hold all the 10 Cabinet posts but they also chair all but one of the panels which are supposed to scrutinise decisions made by the Cabinet. How democratic is that!

It is my view and that of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council, that Bryntysilio is to valuable an asset to lose in yet another round of Tory cuts. It provides valuable life experiences which remain with the many pupils who use the facility every year. To suggest that the activities at Shrugborough in any way match those experienced in the rugged Welsh landscape just shows you how much Walsall’s Tories are out of touch.

There are many of you out there who will have either benefited yourself or know someone who has benefited from the Bryntysilio experience. We’d like you to share your thoughts with those of us who are concerned that “review” is just Tory speak for CUT.

There is precious little for young people as it is without taking this life changing opportunity away from them!