TALKING about the possible closure of youth services in Crediton led a member of Crediton Town Council to remark that Devon County Council "should look at the Young Farmers' Clubs, who could knock spots off the county council," for organisation.

Consultations about the future of youth services in Devon continue until the end of this month.

Crediton Town Council is opposed to cuts and, at its finance and general purposes committee meeting on Tuesday, agreed to write to the county council asking for more financial information to be able to make informed decisions.

Councillors were also discussing day and residential care. It was pointed out that the St Lawrence Residential Home at Crediton was also a day care centre, offering respite for families.

Councillors said they did not want to "sit back and let closures happen" but needed more information from the county council before beginning to think about the possibility of taking over anything.

A majority of councillors backed Cllr Paul Vincent with his proposal that, in the event of closure of the youth service, the town council would be minded to consider allocation of resources to support youth provision in the town.

The committee also agreed that the town council should seek a meeting with the county council heads of youth, residential and day care services and an answer to the requests in a previous letter.

Cllr Nick Way (also a county and district councillor) said that Crediton's youth services were in "a really good building in a perfect part of town". A lot of money had been spent on the heating system, the county council had revamped the building and "it seems a crying shame if this should close."

AND THE TOILETS...

Mid Devon District Council is to be asked for more information on running costs and other points for the public toilets in Crediton.

The district council has been reviewing its public toilet provision through the area. It has said that it needs to reduce public toilet costs by £10,000 this financial year with more savings needed for the following year.

The district council makes 21 conveniences available to the public in the district. It contributes £1,250 to the toilet in the Old Town Hall, available to the public when the building is open.

The committee was told that the toilets on The Green cost a total of £4,156 to run, those on Newcombes Meadow cost £4,171 and those on Market Street, the newest, cost £5,027 a year to run.

The district council was suggesting that the toilets on The Green be closed and developed for other purposes. It was the only facility in Crediton that did not have access for people with disabilities.

It also suggested that the £1,250 partnership payment for the Old Town Hall should stop, given the number and concentration of facilities available in Crediton town centre.

Committee members felt that probably the only way to keep The Green toilets open was for the town council to find the funding to run them.

Councillors were none too keen on any of them closing, felt that perhaps the one on The Green might have the least effect, but wanted to know what "developed for other purposes" meant.