Youth Facility at Heatherside?

10.33.06am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Jul 2009

Youth services need to be improved

Lib Dems support the provision of youth facilities in local areas and, from their resident surveys in Surrey Heath, many residents agree.

In Heatherside there are very few facilities for young people and so a committee that includes police, youth workers and councillors decided to award Heatherside £150,000 for a youth facility on the Green. In July Heatherside residents met to discuss whether they wanted this and, if so, what they preferred: a multi-use community-run building, a village green outdoor space, an outdoor space to include skating or wheeled sports or nothing at all.

It was pointed out by the police that anti-social behaviour is reduced when young people have something to do. Anti-social behaviour is much higher in Heatherside compared to other areas such as Mytchett where there are youth facilities. Many young people supported the outdoor space facilities and a number of parents agreed but there were some older residents who were very much against any facility as they feared it would attract youngsters from outside the area who wanted to cause trouble. In answer to this concern, the youth officer for Surrey Heath said that local youth would ensure that other young people misbehaving would be kept in check.

Each household will be sent a vote form to return by 14th August but the final decision will need planning permission.