Controversial plans to build this new £17,000 youth shelter in Berrow were debated at a stormy public meeting in the village on Monday evening (October 12th).
Fifty residents filled Berrow Village Hall, as pictured, where a petition signed by 81 people opposing the plans was handed to parish councillors.
Many villagers fear the proposed shelter will create anti-social behaviour and related problems if it is introduced on Berrow Village Green.
But Ken May, Chairman of Berrow Local Action Team, the group that is overseeing the plans, said the 20-seat shelter would be a modern community asset for the village.
He told the meeting: “It would be an excellent facility, built like a small amphitheatre for young people and walkers to meet. The structure would be made of vandal-proof materials and the insides would be fully visible from the road. Solar-powered LED spot lights would be used to cut running costs,” he said.
The plans were also backed by Parish Council Chairwoman Jenny Bentley, who said the shelter had originally been proposed in the village’s 2002 Parish Plan.
However, many villagers at the meeting voiced fears about the plans.
Resident Colin Adams said: “We shouldn’t be encouraging young people aged 12-16 to hang around in a shelter during the middle of winter – the money should be spent on setting up new youth groups for them to do something with their lives instead.”
Berrow resident June Hill, pictured below, has collected 81 signatures on a petition in just two days.
“There is a great deal of opposition to the shelter from a wide cross-section of people, including families and some youngsters who fear the shelter would cause numerous anti-social behaviour problems,” she told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Cllr Jenny Bentley admitted that the parish council had been “slightly naïve” in failing to recognise the proposals would be so controversial. “We didn’t realise it would be as big an issue as this,” she told the meeting.
PC Stuart Curtis, Neighbourhood Beat Manager for Berrow, who attended the meeting with Sgt Ian Kennett, said: “The scheme has alarmed some residents and for this reason, we’ve discussed the matter with the council and Local Action Team and I am reassured by the shelter plans. These shelters have worked well in some other areas.”
Funding for the scheme has already been earmarked by the Somerset Youth Opportunities Fund, a central government body, but the plans are now in question.
Cllr Bentley, right, said she would “fully take onboard” the opinions and added: “If the people of Berrow really don’t want this shelter, it will not happen.”
She thanked villagers for attending, saying: “It shows a strong community spirit is alive when we attract large audiences like this.”
Burnham-On-Sea.com will be following the debate during coming weeks.
