Youngsters have their say on city plans
Sunderland’s young people have had their say on plans for the city’s future.
Jobs, business growth, transport links and housing needs from now until 2033 were discussed by Sunderland’s Youth Parliament at a special event to focus on the city’s Draft Core and Development Plan.
Members quizzed planners after a presentation, which also targets challenges such as deprivation and rising obesity within the city, and includes leisure and retail requirements and environmental concerns.
Sunderland Youth Parliament is a group of 22 young people, aged 11 to 18, who work to give a voice to children and teenagers in Sunderland.
The group works with Together for Children to help shape services in the city, regularly meeting with staff as well as Sunderland’s councillors and MPs.
Questions covered key aspects of the plan including new highways, the certainty of completion of developments within the plan, sports facilities, travellers’ sites and green belt issues.
City council leader Coun Paul Watson said: “It’s great to see young people so motivated and involved with what will happen to their city in the future.
“I’m delighted the Youth Parliament took part in the debate about the draft plan.
“Events such as this play a very important role in helping us decide upon the future shape of our city.”
Tom Newton, member of the Youth Parliament, enjoyed the Local Plan presentation: “Consultation in every form is incredibly important,” he said.
“It’s giving people who are going to be experiencing the effects of the plan the information they need.”
Fellow member Rachel Krajovska added: “This has been a good introduction to the plan, and it was put across in a clear way. It means I can now talk about it to others, and although I was aware of some aspects of the plan I wasn’t aware of others, such as the redevelopments.”
Consultation events are taking place this week. To find out more, visit http://www.sunderland. gov.uk/CHttpHandler. ashx?id=19109&p=0.