A PETITION calling for youth services in Helensburgh and Lomond to be protected from possible “catastrophic” funding cuts by Argyll and Bute Council has attracted more than 600 signatures in just three days.

A report to the authority's policy and resources committee this week set out a proposal to cut £330,000 from the council's budget for youth and adult learning services.

If approved in the council's 2018-19 spending plans in the new year, the move would result in the loss of 17.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts in the department, or 57 per cent of the team.

A campaign has now been started by Rosie Sumsion, Helensburgh and Lomond's Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament and a member of the Helensburgh and Lomond Youth Forum, to protect the service.

Her petition states: “While we appreciate the council has a duty to deliver on core services, we believe that the programmes provided by youth services are vital to our communities and these cuts will have a detrimental effect.

“This not only affects young people but the adults who benefit from such services.

“Without these services the outcome for our communities can only be damaging and lead to the most vulnerable in society being negatively affected.

“The loss of such groups which we believe to be fundamental in the development of communities and individuals will have a catastrophic impact on everyone in Argyll and Bute.”

Find the petition, read the comments so far and add your signature if you wish by clicking here.