A MAJOR shake-up of children's services in York will see a "one stop shop" for young people shut, and opening hours slashed at children's centres across the city.

The council-funded 29 Castlegate currently provides counselling to 16 to 25-year-olds, but now looks likely to close and have its services moved to City of York Council's West Offices HQ on Station Rise. Services for over-19s could also be cut under the moves, which are part of the "Rewiring Public Services" programme.

The move, confirmed in council papers released ahead of next Tuesday's cabinet meeting, prompted warnings from experts who feared it would leave vulnerable young people without the support they need.

Uncertainty also hangs over the future of the children's centres across York. The same council papers reveal a plan to reduce all nine centres in York to partial opening hours, possibly closing centres which aren't well used by the community in the second and third phases of the project.

Kim Bevan, who is head of community services at The Retreat, voiced concern over the closure of Castlegate. He said: "It's bad news, particularly because that age range is when mental ill health often first shows itself."

She said the service was also concerned about the move to put young people's services in council HQ rather than a dedicated unit.

"The environment matters, and you have to make these places accessible and somewhere young people would want to be."

The proposals have come after a consultation period with service users and local people and the council's education and young people's chief Jon Stonehouse said the new "targeted" approach will support particularly vulnerable young people.

He added: "The proposals relating to young people’s services include changes to the Personal Support Inclusion (PSI) service. Under the plans the service will provide a preventative and targeted service for young people at risk of poor outcomes, particularly in relation to health and wellbeing, the edge of care, homelessness and offending.

"The proposals are likely to mean some changes to the existing staffing structure, which may include a reduction in posts. If the proposals are agreed, we will work with staff to implement the new structure and support those colleagues affected by the proposals, attempting to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible.”

The Castlegate centre was opened in 2007, when the Liberal Democrats ran the council. The current Lib Dem leader, Keith Aspden, spoken out against the decision, saying "short-sighted" proposals were cutting services that can make a difference.

Cllr Aspden added: "Labour seem to be going against the early-intervention principle and cutting services for young people while wasting money elsewhere."

Labour pointed to the financial burden of running the Castlegate building.

A group spokesman said: "The upkeep of the building has been costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds a year which could be better directed into services. Labour is committed to people not buildings."