DISCUSSIONS are taking place in West Craven to improve the area for youngsters after concerns were raised about the lack of youth activities.

The subject was raised at the West Craven Community Working Group, Barnoldswick, when it was noted that the problem arose particularly at weekends.

The youth clubs in West Craven that operate during the week are currently over-subscribed with stretched resources and are unable to open at the weekend.

This leads to young people hanging around on the streets with nowhere to go.

It was agreed at the working group that a local conference should be arranged in August, involving all interested parties and agencies, to develop a strategy and programme of action aimed at making significant improvements to the activities and facilities for young people in West Craven.

It was also agreed that the county council should be approached with a view to granting the temporary use of accommodation at the former Rainhall Road School for youth activities, pending the determination of the building's future use.

Resident Jackie Taylforth, who is a voluntary worker in Barnoldswick, said: "Youth facilities are very much needed in West Craven. Young girls and parents have approached me in the past about somewhere where they can go inside where they congregate and have a snack bar to keep them off the street.

"I have talked to youth clubs about opening at the weekends but there's not enough money or staff. Barnoldswick Youth Club is so busy they are having to turn them away because they have no outside play area.

"We are desperate for something bigger. I have been trying to get the summer Splash activities which are run from the Thompson Centre in Burnley running from the sports centres here but have no had success.

"Having nowhere to go is making it hard work not just for parents but for the police as the youngsters are hanging round in groups on the streets and there's nowhere to move them on to."