Page 18 - link magazine

18 OtJT1I ISSUES

Youth Scene

awl by Louise Wilkes, who has just completed secondary school
With the exams finished and the and intimidated by a group of
Edgington summer holidays coming, I'm sure people who seem to claim the Link
a lot of young people are going to as their territory. But I do think its
find themselves with more time a bitunfair that young people living
than they know what to do with. in West Swindon are getting the
I can understand the growing reputation of yobs and trouble
Opp the Town Flail fears quite a few people seem to makers just because a small minority
SNi.iPXE.st.i2:. have about the increase of young find causing trouble the only way
people who are spending more and they can have fun.
more time just 'hanging around'. I feel quite fortunate as having a
Ti I :S wind D 5.365 $2 I must admit 'hanging out down part time job means not only do I
the Link' of an evening is not my have something to occupy my time
idea offun and yes, I can sympathise before college starts in September,
with those who feel threatened but I also have a reliable cash flow
to finance all my leisure activities. sure that this is not the intention of
Talking to friends who live in the majority ofyoung people living
Philip Stone QUALITY SHEDS surrounding areas, West Swindon in Swindon.
does seem to offer quite a good I don't think driving people away
Painter & AND FENCING range of recreational activities, and banning them from
DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER which are all easily accessible. But congregating in a place they've
Decorator SHEDS if you haven't got money the grown to rely on is the way to stop
WORKSHOPS
• STABLES facilities might as well not exist. trouble. Not all parents allow their
AVIARIES
For a high standaid i. DOG KENNELS In theory young people should teenage children to have friends in
of work with find something beneficial to do the house, so it wouldn't take long
references available with their time. However, in for a new meeting place to be
practise, its hard, especially as established possibly irritating adults
finding a job is like looking for a even more.
Telephone now for needle in a haystack at the moment. It seems that the only way to
a FREE estimate ALL 1?PIl OF FENCING GATES It is obvious that the Link and solve the problem is through
SUPPLIED AND PITTED
Freshbrook Community Centre compromise. If young people can
Tel: 870515 FRII ESTIMATES • FREE DIU VERY have been established by young learn to respect the needs of others
Tel: 848674 or eve.834967
people as a place where they can so that sharing the community
meet friends and relax in a safe centres with everyone else is not a
environment. Everyone needs problem, then surely it is not too
some time and space to just have much to ask adults to respect young
SHAW VETERINARY some fun. So is it fair to deny people and their needs to meet in
people this right? Obviously yes, if areas, which after all, were designed
CENTRE it causes distress to others, but I am for everybody.

SHAW VILLAGE CENTRE Coping as a parent

RAMLEAZE DRIVE, SHAW In May we asked readers to express their views
on young people in West Swindon. This contributor from Westlea
asked for her name not be published, but her comments will
Consultations by Appointment no doubt strike chords with many other parents in the area
Mon to Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm
It's remarkable how suddenly our a day in the bathroom. Considering
8.00pm -10.00pm offspring make the transition from the aim generally is to be totally
Sat 9.00am - 12.30pm babyhood to toddler and child to unnoticed, it all seems a bit
young adult.
pointless. This is nothing new in
We had coped pretty well with teenage girls I suppose, although
• • the terrible twos of our daughter's they certainly cost more these days,
SHAW
• LATE NIGHT VILLAGE childhood but nothing could have at least the designer labels do.
• CENTRE prepared us for the terrible Forget the bargain from Woollies,
SURGERIES teenager. We can only hope that even being seen in the wrong store
beneath the penned hair, sloppy is 'so embarrassing'.
• 24 HOUR clothes and over-priced trainers, is In all fairness, the problems of
GRANGE . the young girl we raised to be adolescence are endless and I can
EMERGENCY PARK LINK loving, kind and considerate. These definitely say that they were not
•
CENTRE qualities are lurking there the best years of my life, even
TREATMENT
somewhere, we're sure, but the though I was told often that they
FRESH B RmK WESTLEA
pressures of growing up are should be. I think our daughter
TOOTH ILL
temporarily suppressing them! will be saying the same some day.
Her biggest priorities these days
TEL: 881919 are to try and look the same as all The Link would like to hear your
her friends (preferably as scruffy as views and opinions on the 'youth'
possible) and spend atleast4 hours debate. Address on page 2 or 24.