Following reports of ongoing anti-social behaviour in Gullock Tyning, Midsomer Norton, the Palladium and the old gas works at Primrose Lane being broken in to, plus vandalism at sites, such as the Silver Street Nature Reserve, Town Councillors are looking at ways in which to help young people have somewhere to go and something to do in a bid to prevent crime and get to the root of local issues.
Following meetings with the Police, the Somer Centre and local youth counselling service, Off the Record, a survey has been undertaken with members of Norton Youth Club (NYC) of 109 children and young people to find out what they really think.
Following the NYC survey, the town’s Mayor also went along to the skate park at Gullock Tyning, speaking with around fifty young people using the site.
He said: “I was completely blown away by the young people and what they had to say. They too are sick of the motorbikes, as it means the police often arrive and move them on.
“The clear message was that if you didn’t want to join the minority riding mopeds, then there really isn’t anywhere to go or anything else to do. There is no shelter, and they are angry that the multi-games area is now astroturfed, padlocked, and they have to pay to use it.
“This doesn’t mean that anti-social behaviour problems should be excused – it’s just that they want somewhere warm and dry to go, more than one night a week.
“Even when it is dry, it seems there is a lack of purely non-membership/free or at least affordable activities for young people to engage in. The picture that emerged is that what adults perceive is not necessarily what young people want.
“I think we therefore need to work together to try and resolve the issues – peace for older residents and resources for the younger members of our community.
“Harmony lies in us all agreeing boundaries, based on understanding the consequences for the community of our actions as individuals – whether young or old.”
An idea currently being discussed, is that of using old shipping containers to create two Youth Hubs – one at Gullock Tyning and one at Orchard Vale, fitted with lighting, a basic kitchen and games equipment, or a café, run by the young people themselves. When opened by a Youth Outreach Worker at specific times, social, educational and support programmes could also be run.
“One of the lessons we have learned includes the fact that young people need to be involved in organising what they want – they won’t participate otherwise,”
continued Cllr Myers. “It is only the tiny minority that are involved in anti-social behaviour; the majority just want something to do.
“I am wary about spending money on speed humps, gates and bollards to keep young people out – it is better to help the cause, rather than have lots of street furniture to maintain. We have one of the largest populations of young people in the area, and we need to support them.”
Cllr Michael Evans added at the Town Council’s monthly meeting on Monday evening that should McDonald’s ever consider the town, they would be welcomed with open arms, because it would provide somewhere for young people to meet.
Ideas such as solar panels that gently warm seats and provide a dry area with a wifi booster were also discussed, alongside looking at a Peasedown St John youth initiative, which saw teens design their own space and be responsible for sourcing their own furniture and games.
It was also put forward that a marquee could be borrowed to put up near the Somer Centre, providing refreshments so that young people in the town could talk about what they would like before the Town Park Consultation at the Fayre Day on 8th July.