ESSEX County Council has hit back at campaigners fighting to save the Roding Centre, Buckhurst Hill.

Asked about the council's decision to shut the Loughton Way venue in July, county councillor Tracey Chapman, the cabinet member with responsibility for the youth service, said: "We're trying to provide the best service for our youth. We're not in the business of providing community halls."

Buckhurst Hill residents and users of the centre which provides facilities for many groups including a disabled group, mums and toddlers group, youth club, the Prince's Trust and a senior citizens bowls club are furious about the loss of a valuable community resource and what they perceive as limited public consultation.

Roding Centre Action Committee chairman Ray Harris has sent letters to every county and Epping Forest district councillor, as well as Loughton town and Buckhurst Hill parish councillors, asking them to discuss the reasons behind the decision.

He said: "We, as centre users and local residents, have the right to know how this decision has been made and what consultation procedure has taken place.

"It's vital these kinds of centres remain in the community and are funded appropriately. They can result in a decrease in youth crime on our streets, a healthy aging population, a place for disabled and able-bodied people to socialise, a local place where mum's can walk their toddlers, a place that sporting groups can hire, maintaining healthy lifestyles the list is endless.

"The potential for such a site, if managed and funded properly, is enormous."

But a county council spokeswoman said: "We're fully committed to providing youth service but these need not necessarily be tied to a building. Of the groups using the centre, the young people in the group with disabilities have been offered facilities in the new building. The other groups using it are a bowls group and a rifle range. These are not youth facilities."

She added that public consultation had been an extensive two-year process, including discussions with Epping Forest Council chief executive John Burgess and councillors and a full county council meeting before the final decision was taken.

The centre is set to be sold and, together with Theydon Bois Youth Centre, should fetch the council about £1.5m.

A petition against the closure has gained over 450 signatures.

A public meeting to discuss the closure will be held at the Roding Centre, at 8pm on Monday, March 8. All councillors have been invited.