ATTEMPTS are being made to form a youth council or similar group in Buckfastleigh to drive forward projects which would give youngsters more things to do. The town has been plagued by nuisance youth incidents – there were 11 reports between December 9 and January 10. Now PC Alison Hooper, the neighbourhood officer, and Buckfastleigh's new Police Community Support Officer Kevin Pewsey, have put helping the youth of the town as one of their objectives. PC Hooper told a meeting of Buckfastleigh Town Council that while the number of nuisance incidents had increased, one of the reasons was a youth who had moved into the area. He had been arrested and was banned from certain parts of the town, and had now moved elsewhere. Two of the main problem nights were Fridays and Saturdays, and deputy mayor Cllr Pat Hedges said that was when The Bungalow – a Devon Youth Services project next to Victoria Park – was closed. There are three different youth clubs/groups in the town – The Bungalow, Time Out in St Luke's Church, and the Buckfastleigh Youth Club in Chapel Street, the latter two both voluntary-based. If a youth council – aimed at the up-to-18 years, but hopefully those slightly older, would become involved – is formed, one of the first priorities would be to try to get something open for the youngsters on Friday and Saturday nights. The mayor, Cllr Don Joint, said there was a shelter in Victoria Park, but no light in it. He asked PC Hooper if she thought youngsters would use it if there was. 'I think possibly they would use it,' she replied. Members heard that Moretonhampstead had opened a complex not just for youths but for adults as well. Residents had got together and formed a trust so that they could get grants, etc. 'I think it is important that you as a council meet the residents to try to get something. It is something the youths could get involved in as well,' said PC Hooper. Cllr Stuart Barker said an awful lot of money had gone into Buckfastleigh from Leader 11, in which the youngsters had been involved. 'There has been in excess of six figures. Moretonhampstead and Ashburton rely on volunteers and professionals. In Buckfastleigh we do not have the volunteers,' said Cllr Barker, who said he believed there would not be a problem getting volunteers once they saw what was happening at The Bungalow. 'There are still not the facilities for youngsters in the town that there should be. 'In Moretonhampstead the youth groups got together to get one facility. There are a number of youth groups in Buckfastleigh and we struggle to bring them together,' he added. The council agreed to approach Mike Stevens, of Devon Youth Services, regarding the possible formation of a youth council, as well as keeping services open on Friday and Saturday evenings.
