‘Youth zone’ plans need funding
A COMMUNITY group has ambitious plans to create a ‘youth zone’ for Macclesfield youngsters - but is struggling to persuade the council to provide £1m funding.
Cheshire Youth Federation wants to open a centre at its site on Oxford Road at an initial cost of £2m, then £200,000 annually to run.
Chairman Jim Bisset says the group would provide half of both sets of money and has asked Cheshire East Council to make up the rest.
Despite so far drawing a blank he says the funding would be a worthwhile investment providing constructive activities that would lower anti-social behaviour.
And that the value of this was shown last week when police appealed over the violent disorder involving gangs of up to 35 youths in Macclesfield town centre.
Jim said: “We have not given up, what has happened proves we need this in Macclesfield.
“It would make an enormous difference and help youth development, we used to have a youth club two nights a week and police would tell us they could tell the nights it was on.
“Macclesfield deserves a facility like this. The council says there are no funds but it should look at its priorities as there should be no higher priority than youth.”
The youth zone would include a cafeteria, break-out area, a meeting room for speakers and an IT suite as well as facilities to teach skills such as cooking and hairdressing.
According to Jim similar projects have been successful - at a higher cost than £2m - in other areas such as Preston, Birkenhead and Carlisle.
He says the federation has asked the council several times over the last five years to come on board.
A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said: “.
As reported in last week’s Macclesfield Express police asked parents for help after several weeks of disorder in the town centre, which included police being racially abused, intimidation and violent incidents.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “We can confirm the council has been approached in relation to a Youth Zone in Macclesfield. The offer made included capital set up costs and a contribution to running costs.
“Having researched a number of Youth Zones across the country, the evidence has shown they require a large staffing ratio and budget which is far too expensive. This means the business case is not sustainable or financially viable for the council.
“While the Youth Zones have been seen to work in urban areas, where there are sufficient numbers of young people living close enough to the Youth Zone to access the services – this is not the case in Macclesfield.
“Membership fees and subscriptions are kept low to promote access which means the centres can struggle to generate enough income if numbers are too low.
“Cheshire East Council is committed to improving the leisure and health facilities for its residents and has invested heavily with Macclesfield youth support services as well as £4m on the sports centre.”