Kingston Council has stood by its decision to close half of the borough’s youth clubs.

A petition to call in the adults and children’s committee’s ruling last month was debated at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Councillors ruled that Searchlight, a youth club on the borders of Norbiton and New Malden, should still shut despite the fact Kingston Council will save no money this year from the closure.

Protesters argued that the closure of the club, run by community interest company Achieving for Children (AfC), would result in children being forced to meet on the streets and could result in a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Conservative councillors disagreed and said the services in its current state was “not fit for purpose”.

Cllr Eric Humphreys, chairman of the adults and children’s committee, said: “There is another centre half a mile away that offers very good facilities. AfC has a national reputation for excellence.

“I don’t think if someone was forced to travel half a mile that will force them into anti-social behaviour. We have invited users to come forward to be involved in future provision.”

Cllr Andrea Craig said: “In the short term we will be unpopular [but] I believe the children of this borough deserve youth centres fit for purpose.”

She said that by August the council will have a clear plan about how the improved children’s service will look.

Liberal Democrat councillor Margaret Thomson said: “This is too important for political point scoring. Nobody is disagreeing that this service needs to modernise [but] we also need to consider what our young people need.”