AT last Thursday's full meeting of Shropshire Council, Ludlow residents presented a petition calling for funding to be maintained for Ludlow's Foyer.

After a short debate, Councillor Lee Chapman, speaking in the absence of portfolio holder Mal Price, said he was confident that the council’s cabinet would approve funding for the Foyer at its meeting yesterday (September 28). This expected to maintain funding at current levels.

The government has also indicated that it will delay implementation of funding cuts for supported housing for young people (the Local Housing Allowance).

Tracey Huffer, Councillor for Ludlow East and chair of the Ludlow Youth Partnership, said: “This could be very good news indeed. The Foyer does superb work with vulnerable young people. I congratulate all the people in Ludlow who have worked hard to organise this petition and get it signed.

"But I'll be holding my breath until the cabinet meeting. We need this written in stone.”

Andy Boddington, Councillor for Ludlow North said: “Things seem to be going the right way for the Foyer. But this will only guarantee funding until March 2019. We need to give Shropshire Housing Association more security than this.

"We have a desperate need for young people's places across the county. The housing association has ambitious plans for expansion of the Foyer. This will only go ahead if longer term financial backing is secured.”