Teen facilities
SIR – There have been several letters complaining of nuisance caused by teenagers in children s play areas. The only too frequent response to teenagers appears to be to try to get rid of them. In one case I think the problem has arisen because they have b
SIR - There have been several letters complaining of nuisance caused by teenagers in children's play areas. The only too frequent response to teenagers appears to be to try to get rid of them. In one case I think the problem has arisen because they have been prevented from congregating somewhere else.
How many facilities are there in the area suitable for teenagers? There are numerous play areas provided for young children, but much less for those over 13.
Sadly, the new swimming pool is about to be made less attractive to older children, even though there will be better splash areas for younger ones.
It is to be made shallower and there will be no high diving boards.
Older children like to be challenged and like excitement and risk. Diving is a particularly good way of providing excitement in a controlled environment.
If we lose these we lose any opportunity for someone to try to engage with the disaffected by providing such an exciting activity.
Most Read
- 1 Recap: Rail delays through St Albans and Harpenden after train hits branch
- 2 Fire crews receive 'multiple' 999 calls amid large blaze at Welham Green
- 3 Goods worth more than £260 in total stolen from St Albans Co-op store
- 4 Teenager ‘robbed at knife-point' by two males in Hemel Hempstead
- 5 Clarence Park deckchairs banned following council concerns
- 6 Katherine Ryan and Romesh Ranganathan spotted filming in St Albans
- 7 New play areas open at Harpenden parks
- 8 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 9 Recap: Two crashes disrupting M1 and M25 drivers near St Albans
- 10 Church welcomes gay community event as part of St Albans Pub Pride
I wonder how much the council spends on facilities for teenagers as opposed to those for young children, I also wonder how much it spends on clearing up after teenagers compared with young children?
There is an urgent need for better facilities for teenagers and what a pity we are about to lose one that already exists.
HELEN HARAN
Marshalswick Lane, St Albans