Shaftesbury Youth Club in Birkenhead says there are no plans to close down.

It has issued the following statement to clear up any misunderstanding following a recent meeting of Wirral Council's cabinet and to reassure staff, members, parents and everyone associated with the club that there are no plans to close it.

The confusion appears to have arisen following the recent announcements by the council of their intent to create a number of new academies on Wirral, one of which may be in the Prenton area.

"It must be stressed that whilst we are willing to discuss such matters and assess the benefit of any proposal to the future of the Shaftesbury Youth Club and to the youth of Birkenhead no such discussions have yet taken place and therefore no decisions have been made," the club said.

"In any discussions safeguarding the future of the club will be our top priority.

"We have made our attitude regarding any discussions very clear to the douncil and for avoidance of any doubt we set out below our position: "Shaftesbury Youth Club will remain on the Prenton site.

"Shaftesbury Youth Club will maintain its independence from Wirral Council.

"Shaftesbury Youth Club has an excellent relationship with Wirral Council and is prepared to discuss future facilities of our club with the council and develop them for the benefit of the whole of the borough.

"The substance of our ambitions and progressive attitude towards improving the youth club facilities were discussed with Wirral Council who decided to promote the Shaftes as one of four major youth clubs forming the basis of modern youth club facilities in Wirral.

"This long term relationship with Wirral Council was considered by the club to provide a positive opportunity to develop in a manner which would benefit not only the Shaftesbury Youth Club but the whole of Wirral and yet allow us to maintain our much valued independence.

"We will continue to keep our staff, supporters and patrons updated on a regular basis concerning our present and future ambitions for development of the youth club facilities."

The youth club has been in existence for 120 years and moved to its present site in Mendip Road, in 1970.

Over that period it has successfully provided youth club facilities for the youngsters of Birkenhead and it is the intention of the club to maintain and to improve further such facilities in the future.

The club recently applied for a substantial grant from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) which if it had been successful would have allowed the existing buildings to be modernised and a new sports hall and pavilion to be built together with improved access and parking facilities off Borough Road.

Despite the failure of the application the concept of the required alterations and new build were agreed by the club council to form the basis of our long term development on the present site in Prenton.