Hugh Sandeman
Conservative Councillor for Bell Hill ward, Petersfield

The national debate about youth/hoodies/vandalism and anti-social behaviour is echoed in miniature within Petersfield's boundaries. The Town Council has a part to play in Petersfield's response to the issues surrounding young people congregating and the associated damage that is sometimes linked to the more boisterous or malevolent members or sections of these groups.

The damage seen to the Town Council's Avenue Pavillion and the Cricket Club's Pavillion on the Heath are clear evidence that there is a problem, with enough circumstantial evidence to show that it is mainly caused by those who can be described as youths.

Although the shattered tiles and other vandalism are clearly criminal damage what isn't and shouldn't be a clear assumption is that all of the town's young people are responsible for or implicated with these attacks.

One of the options available to the Town Council to try to reduce such incidents is to work to provide 'youth shelters' or 'pods' in places around the town. These are little more than bus shelter style buildings, but they are intended to give young people somewhere to sit and congregate.

I am in favour of at least trying this approach, as it is one of the few things within our power and budget that we as a Council can implement. What I am against, especially without a strong argument or evidence for is to push these pods to distant locations, away from where these teenagers choose to congregate at the moment, to places that are hard for the police to monitor effectively, (Bell Hill Recreation Ground is being suggested), I cannot see how anywhere there is easily observable especially for Police patrols.

As a community we need to accept that teenagers, don't want to and will not sit at home in the evenings, indeed many don't have the luxury of a loving home in which to spend the evening. Mine and other Councillors suggestions of locating a youth pod either in the Square or elsewhere in the centre of Town is one that I am keen to explore further.

It doesn't have to look like the mock-up on the front page of this week's Petersfield Post, it could be architecturally respectful of the square or bright and modern with a contemporary design, it could be an asset for all age groups as there isn't any civic shelter from rain in and around the Square unless you're going to the loo or borrowing from the library.

Petersfield has an opportunity to enhance relations between the young and old, pushing these young people away from their natural hang-out shouldn't happen unless expert evidence proves the value of such a course of action. The dangers of Petersfield not accepting it's young people will lead to a further separation and greater misunderstandings. I am prepared to get some flak about a central location but i'd rather be bold as it might just work rather than seeing Petersfield being allowed to turn it's back on the people that will become it's adults of tomorrow.