News Youth forum call to bridge age gap
A new forum for youngsters to air their views about anti-social behaviour could be set up in Snaith.
Town councillors recently gave unreserved backing for the proposals, which were the brainchild of school pupils.
The forums - which are also being promoted by local schools and the heritage group Snaith and Cowick Together - would be held at regular intervals in an effort to bridge the gap between young and old and come up with ideas to tackle anti-social behaviour problems in Snaith.
The forum would be made up of children, teachers, representatives from public bodies and ordinary members of the public.
Town mayor Councillor Frank Townshend said: "The aim is to set up a forum where all the different generations can meet up on an equal basis so we're not talking down to the children and they're not talking up to us.
"We are very keen to promote this because we feel unsocial behaviour by youngsters can best be dealt with by their peers."
A group of youngsters came up with the idea during a recent meeting at Snaith School attended by teachers, pupils, and town and county councillors.
At the meeting youngsters said they wanted to see an end to general yobbish behaviour.
As well as the forums for young people, the possibility of setting up a junior Snaith and Cowick Together was also mooted during the meeting.
It is envisaged that the junior group would dovetail with the senior heritage group.
Cllr Townshend added: "Before we got together at Snaith School the kids didn't know they could attend any of these meetings.
"We're now working with Snaith and Cowick Together to get children involved in community events such as heritage days. Too many kids think that groups like ours are old fogies' clubs."
Cllr Townshend said it was hoped that the forums would be set up at the next meeting of youngsters and adults at Snaith Primary School in June.
Cllr John Barrett applauded the youngsters for their foresight and efforts to bridge the generation gap.
He said: "The very young ones come across as very mature in their attitude towards this, and I think it would help greatly if we could get the views of these young people. I think the idea of having a forum is a very good one."
The forum is the latest in a series of drives to reduce anti-social behaviour in Snaith.
The area has seen a rise in levels of anti-social behaviour in recent years and councillors fear it is getting out of control.
At a meeting of Snaith and Cowick Town Council this week members were told how some youngsters were taking every opportunity to litter the area with whatever they could find.
The council had learned that youngsters have been taking newspapers, magazines and yoghurt cartons from a skip in the grounds of the Co-op store in Market Place and throwing them all the way down Cadmans Lane.
The council meeting was told that children were getting through an unlocked gate outside the Co-op store and then taking out-of-date food from the skips.
Cllr Barrett suggested the council write a strongly-worded letter to the Co-op asking the store to invest in gate springs or a padlock and chain. Councillors agreed to the motion and that copies of the letter should be sent to local police chiefs.
Police will also be informed about the ongoing problems at the joint-use play area next to Snaith Primary School and under-age drinking on Marina Avenue.
On top of this, councillors are also applying for funds for street lighting for Cadmans Lane, one of the hotspots for anti-social behaviour.
Published on 22nd May 2008 in News.
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