Penrhyn Bay youth club faces closure

Mar 25 2010 by Eva Ketley, North Wales Weekly News

Penrhyn Bay youth club faces closure

A YOUTH club formed with the aim of getting kids off the street could fold because of a lack of support.

The club at Penrhyn Bay community Centre started four years ago because Councillors Linda Groom and Chris Cater thought the it would help curb anti-social behaviour by giving young people somewhere to go.

“We really fought hard to get this club off the ground and it is an excellent facility offering a wide range of activities.

“It was so good that it attracted youngsters from other areas, and in a way that has been part of the problem because some of them were messing about on their way home and caused problems for residents.

“As a result we changed the club night from Friday to Wednesday and since then attendance has dropped off,” explained Cllr Groom.

Before the club opened residents were unhappy about gangs of youngsters hanging around at night with nothing to do.

“They now have somewhere to go, but for some reason they’re not using the facility so we need to find out why,” she said.

Mrs Groom says anti-social behaviour is only caused by a small minority: “The problem is they all get tarred with the same brush, even if they’re only standing around talking. If they have somewhere to go they will be able to escape criticism which many of them don’t deserve, as well as getting involved in enjoyable activities.”

The club is run by volunteers supervised by Conwy County Council’s youth services team and has equipment some of which was bought with a grant from Llandudno Town Council.

“They do a really excellent job. They take the youngsters out on trips such as ice skating at Deeside and there is a table tennis table and computer games for them to play on,” said Cllr Groom.

The councillors have called a public meeting at Penrhyn Bay Community Centre in Derwen Lane for 7pm next Wednesday.

“We would like youngsters and parents and people to attend so we can hear their views,” she added.

judith.phillips