A NEW location has been identified for Warrington’s proposed £5 million-plus Youth Zone following the disastrous fire which wiped out the site originally earmarked – Mr Smith’s Club.
Council chiefs will next week be recommended to note a site on council-owned land near the bus interchange and offer continued support in principle to the scheme.
The development would be carried out by OnSide Youth Zones, who have opened six other similar schemes across the North West, inclujding Wigan, Oldham and Blackburn, in partnership with Warrington Youth Club and the borough council.
Cllr Jean Carter
OnSide hope to provide 20 youth zones across the country by 2020. Each one would provide a wide range of sporting and artistic activity spaces, including a multi-use 3G outdoor pitch, a four court indoor sports hall, a climbing wall, a dance and performing arts studio, a martial arts-boxing gym, a full equipped fitness suite, a music room, a film and multi-media suite, arts, crafts and fashion areas, a girl room, an enterprise and employability, room, together with café facilities, etc.
Zone Zones aim to provide a safe, supportive and affordable place where young people can spend their time constructively. They would pay a £5 annual fee, plus 50p per visit. They are open for all young people aged eight to 19.
A report to be presented to the borough council’s executive board by Cllr Jean Carter, lead member for youth services, next Monday, says youth zones have the potential to provide a wide range of benefits for young people, including improved health and well-being, active lifestyles, reduced obesity, increased confidence and self-belief leading to happier, caring and successful communities.
In Oldham, police have recorded a 40 per cent reduction in youth nuisance calls since their youth zone opened.
Warrington currently has 28,000 young people in the appropriate age range. Warrington Youth Zone would aim to have a membership of 3,000 by the end of year one, attracting 5,000 visits per month. After two years, they would expect attract more.
The council’s £3 million investment – which would include the site – would unlock a further £2.25 million of private sector money and possibly European and charitable funding. It is anticipated the facility will cost OnSide about £1.25 million a year to operate.
If funding at this level is not available, OnSide would reduce the provision to reflect income levels.
A survey of nearly 2,000 young people in Warrington has indicated that 64.2 8-19-year-olds believe there is not enough for them to do and 89.9 per cent believe young people would use the Youth Zone. But this figure dropped to 74.5 per cent when people were asked if they themselves would use it.
The site identified would accommodate a three or four storey building.
OnSide and Warrington Youth Club would provide a fleet of mini-buses to get young people to the youth zone from various parts of the borough.
