Nothing to do say youths

Youths are hanging around on street corners and in alleyways because they have nothing better to do, Balderton Safer Neighbourhood Group was told.

Members agreed action was needed after the issue dominated the group’s meeting in Balderton Village Centre on Monday.

The chairman, county councillor Mr Keith Walker, offered to accompany police community support officers Kirstie Crook and Michelle Longhurst on one their Friday evening patrols.

They not only aim to confiscate alcohol and cigarettes from youngsters they also try to get to know them better.

District and parish councillors Mr Gordon Brooks and Mrs Betty Brooks agreed to go along as well.

Mr Walker said he would ask the county council’s youth service to bring a mobile bus, already used in Newark, to one of their meetings so young people from Balderton could have a look at it.

The bus has resources and facilities for young people including internet access, computer games and board games. Information on issues such as bullying is also available.

Michelle Longhurst said when they were made aware of young people meeting they moved them on and monitored problem areas.

She said she asked young people what facilities they wanted to stop them hanging around in large groups but they had not come up with anything specific.

“They say they have got nothing to do and nowhere to go and they do get upset with us when we move them on,” she said.

The Balderton beat manager, Pc Martin Stannard, said the parish council should look at what could be done to help young people, and provide facilities for them.

“I feel we have been dealt a bad hand and have limited resources compared with other places,” he said.

“We are taking alcohol and cigarettes from young children but we need to do something to help distract them.”

The chairman of Balderton Parish Council, Mrs Angela Jarvis, promised to raise the matter with the council.

She said they looked at helping young people in the past and had £10,000, which was earmarked for a skateboard park, available for youth projects.

She said parish councillor Mrs Lydia Hurst asked pupils at The Grove School, Balderton, for ideas and they were due to attend a council meeting.

Mrs Jarvis said St Giles’ Church started a youth club but it closed through lack of interest.