I THANK Mr Gambling for his comments in the Mercury about the various activities available for the youth in our area, by way of clubs and uniform organisations such as Barcode, scouts, guides, sea cadets, etc. My comments about the lack of facilities were

I THANK Mr Gambling for his comments in the Mercury about the various activities available for the youth in our area, by way of clubs and uniform organisations such as Barcode, scouts, guides, sea cadets, etc.My comments about the lack of facilities were not meant to denigrate the good work that goes on nor the efforts of the many enthusiastic volunteers who run these organisations. On the contrary I commend them for the excellent work they do in providing activities for our young people who wish to join. With the best will in the world however, these activities do not meet the needs of ALL.There is a large pool of young people who just wish to have the facilities of a meeting place where they can spend time with their peers and chat amongst themselves. It is this group that I think are not catered for and who collect on street corners, etc., and then through boredom are inclined to get up to mischief, which can lead to antisocial behaviour.If our clubs, etc., were all that our youth required we would not have the vandalism and mindless antics that are being shown in the Mercury every week. We have to break the cycle for these other young people. All I ask is that we try to see a different point and give them a place to go and chill out. If we don't try to work with the boredom cycle of these kids we only have ourselves to blame. I beg you, don't be complacent and assume that our organised activities are all that are required. The other kids are not all bad. Some are just bored.CLLR ASTRA BRANDMilton and Old Worle Councillor