Young people in Midsomer Norton will have a safe place to go when it’s dark or wet out, if plans to swap a shipping container for one double the size are approved.

The existing twenty-foot unit at the Gullock Tyning skatepark is used for storage, but the town’s Community Trust hopes to develop an outreach hub.

It secured £21,000 from Bath & North East Somerset Council last year to create two facilities. The other will be at Orchard Vale.

Midsomer Norton Community Trust manager, Alex Davis, said: “The idea of putting in two youth hubs in Midsomer Norton arose out of feedback from young people, who made it clear that they wanted somewhere to act as a base for activities.

“More recently, Midsomer Norton Town Council has funded the Norton Youth Club (NYC), based in the town hall and operated by a working partnership of the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and the Wansdyke Play Association.

“In the last year the NYC, which meets on Thursday evenings between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m., has been very popular, with over fifty young people attending, but many want additional outreach activities in the skate park and to the north of the town.”

After looking at a project in Bristol, the Trust secured funding to buy two shipping containers, which will be fitted out with furniture, lighting, a basic kitchen and games equipment.

Alex said the move will give the young people what they are asking for and provide youth workers with a chance to engage with them.

He added: “Once planning permission is secured, plans are in place for young people to work on the creation of the hubs with the recently launched Men’s Shed initiative, providing intergenerational work and skills sharing and development.”

When the containers are not in use, they will be fully secured.

Midsomer Norton Mayor, Cllr Paul Myers (Conservative, Midsomer Norton Redfield), said: “Whilst I thank the police, who have done a fantastic job tackling the antisocial behaviour in Gullock Tyning in the last twelve months, this work can only ever be part of the solution.

“The feedback from the survey with young people, carried out by the Community Trust, was a resounding message that there was simply not enough for young people to do.

“The Trust are therefore looking to respond to this by providing a base actually in the Skate Park that youth workers can use as a base to engage with young people – organising things like football in the multi-games area, or organising skateboard activities.

“At the same time, this project can link to the North Youth Club in the Town Hall. I understand that the Trust have tried to reassure residents that far from attracting more young people to the Gullock Tyning area, that their aim is to work with those already there to reduce the impact of the minority, and it is a minority, committing antisocial behaviour.”

Stephen Sumner