There have been a number of issues raised from the consultations of the 1st and 2nd June 2007. To enable us to understand these areas a little bit easier I have tried to group the comments into relevant sections. There will be occasions where some comments cross a number of sections, but can be grouped together in no particular order as follows:

Use of the school field

• School field could be used more to benefit youngsters during out of school hours for football, netball, etc.
• Need somewhere to kick a football around, somewhere to play after school i.e. school field.
• School field open for youngsters.
• School field should be accessible out of school hours. One of few open spaces available.
• Youths need a place for football, perhaps the school field AGREE.

Open/community spaces

• Community space especially for youngsters – V and A car park, school field underused.
• Open area needed for general use, has never happened, all NIMBY.
• Community space for all which is safe and enjoyable not only for the youth but for the whole community.
• Community space needed, especially for teenagers with recreational facilities e.g. tennis courts, football, Skateboard Park, possibly the V and A car park.
• Is there anywhere for a play area, easily accessible.
• Open space needed for youths to play unsupervised e.g. spare field AGREE
• Open space needed for youngsters.
• Essential need for open central space for young to kick a ball and hangout.

Area for ball games/skate park

• Flat ground for cycling, Skate Park etc would be great.
• A place to play ball games and ride bikes that won’t offend anyone!
• Definitely need access to play/football area.
• We need a youth place where kids can hang out.

Play area needed

• A safe play area is needed without detracting from the character of such places as the churchyard orchard, but local points such as Rydon Cross to be discouraged.
• Need a much better play area; spend more money on new equipment.
• Stoke Gabriel has the worst play area of any village, more slides, swings, roundabouts etc.

Use of V and A car park

• Use the V and A car park for recreational facilities.
• Keep the V and A car park as a rough space.
• V and A car park great opportunity for open space and recreation such as tennis court etc, AGREE x 4.
• Open space needed for young people, V and A car park?

Scout hut area, scout group

• The stream in the scout’s area is a mess, the youth today create the mess, and they should be encouraged to give to the community.
• The scout hut and area needs updating and better space developed for teenagers – listening to what they need.
• Re-develop areas around the scout hut with community facilities, tennis/football etc AGREE.
• Grants to be obtained to regenerate scout hut area – a fantastic and very popular resource for the village.
• Improvements to the scout hall – open to the public more, especially use of the field in front for general flat recreational area.
• Persuade wood owners to allow building shelters and fires for local scout group.
• Can we help the scouts make the most of the scout hut and grounds for use by the “wider” village? This is a fantastic potential resource which is underutilised and looks a tip at the moment AGREE.

Youth input to community

• More youths to help with the gardens.
• Orchard is filthy – young encouraged clearing up their mess.
• Let the youth get involved in stuff like meetings to do about them and where they would like the football to be.
• Set up community programme for teenagers in the village on website. List tasks/groups to help on regular or one off basis.
• Could do with an improved area for young and teens, need to improve attitudes towards young – they are the future of the village – allow them to be part of this community.
• The youth of the village are better off “hanging around” street corners than off burgaling houses. Give them somewhere to go – give them responsibility of that space and they will respect it.
• The youth are the future; we have to listen to their comments.
• Would be great to get youth involved in practical community improvement activities rather than just thinking about now to entertain them.
• Give youths in the village some responsibilities. Could we reward them for cleaning up the roads or cutting back hedges or keeping footpaths open?

Meeting place, undercover for youth

• Need somewhere weather proof for teens to hang out.
• 12 – 18 youth club.
• A place for youths to meet in. Teenagers are only trouble when they are bored. Somewhere they can call their own and help renovate and take a pride in this and their surroundings.
• Indoor youth amusement centre.
• We need to have some form of teenager’s level activities/centre – very easy to understand why they get bored here.
• Provide youth with an area for their own use – games etc.

Stoke M8s (mates)

• Mates – deserves full support of Parish Council and all parishioners.
• Mates need full support of the village – please provide funding foe the drug awareness programmes.
• All ages to support mates.
• More interesting activities for young people, more canoeing, and swimming (make safe areas on river/creek edge).
• Be nice if different ages and social groups were more integrated but given this is a national problem.
• Teach life saving skills, maybe start canoe lifeguard corps.

Football Club

• I really want to encourage local boys and girls to join SGFC.
• Get the football club to set up a team for 13/14 year olds.

Other

• “Walking bus” set up for parents to walk kids to school. Perhaps traffic control could be set up 0830 till 0900 and 1530 till 1600 to enable safer walking AGREE.
• Some more cerebral occupations too!