Campaigners hoping to save Connexions branches hit the streets of Halton

Feb 22 2012 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

CAMPAIGNERS have been pounding the streets in an effort to save a Halton youth service.

The Weekly News reported last week how Government funding cuts had hit careers and training advice service Connexions, forcing it to close branches and axe staff.

Halton is host to two branches, one in Halton Lea, Runcorn, and the other on Albert Road in Widnes.

Union representatives visited the borough last week where they spoke to residents and handed out leaflets warning about the possible consequences of losing what they say is a ‘vital’ service for young people.

Andrew McGregor, senior Unison steward at Greater Merseyside Connexions Knowsley branch, said: “The people we spoke to supported us and said that with cuts to other services they wondered where kids were going to go.

“They said there are already problems finding work and to make these kinds of cuts was madness.”

Mr McGregor said hopes were still high that the Halton Lea branch of Connexions could be spared the axe, but that the Widnes branch was still set to close at the end of March.

The branch’s 20 staff would be redeployed, but that job losses could not be ruled out as the service was due to be faced by a fresh round of redundancies.