Concerns have been raised that a proposal to hold a youth club in an Alston pub sends out the “wrong signals” to youngsters in the area.
At a meeting of Alston Moor Parish Council on Monday last week, resident Ken Little asked if councillors had been involved in the proposal to set up a youth club at the town’s Angel Inn.
He explained that Westmorland and Furness Council’s youth co-ordinator was organising to be in the Angel on a Monday and Tuesday night, starting before long, with two youth leaders coming to do it from Appleby.
“Do you think this is a practical place for a youth club?,” he asked
Parish councillor Elaine Grew confirmed that nobody had been to talk to them about it at all and said: “There is throughout the country a problem with youth drinking on street corners and parks and causing havoc and if you are having something like this in a pub what is that actually saying?
One suggestion at the meeting was that somewhere like the town hall would be better.
Parish council chairman Ray Miller said: “Personally, I don’t think it is appropriate for it to be in a pub.”
He said the last he had heard was that it was going to be in the school. However, the meeting was told that the school venue was rejected by the youngsters.
Parish councillor Alix Martin said: “I do think we can probably all agree with you that is inappropriate,” but added that she did not know whether they, as the parish council, would have any jurisdiction whatsoever.
It was agreed that more information about the proposal would be sought and the matter put onto next month’s agenda.
Westmorland and Furness Council was contacted for comment.
