News
Chuckery youth to remain on the buses
Under pressure Walsall Council bosses are to press ahead with plans to use central government youth funding on a fleet of buses. £450,000 earmarked for a youth centre in Chuckery will be used to buy and equip the buses regardless of demands from the influential Local Neighbourhood Partnership that the money should be spent in Chuckery.
Members of the St Matthews/Birchills/Leamore LNP have demanded that cabinet reconsider the bus fleet plan and try again to find a suitable site for a permanent youth centre in the area. The committee, made up of local councillors, representatives of the police, fire service, housing groups and the NHS, as well as local people want to see a much needed facility for the young people of Chuckery.
But, cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Rachel Walker said: “We have received feedback from the LNP. Unfortunately because the money is time-limited there was some urgency to spend it so that we did not lose it. We do recognise the concerns of the LNP. There will be targeted support for Chuckery.”
The successful funding bid to the government youth capital fund plus was specific to Chuckery and residents are angry that after 2 bodged attempts to impose a building without adequate consultation, the money will now be spread out across the borough. Like Chuckery, areas such as Brownhills and Pheasey suffer a chronic shortage of youth provision.
Council Leader Councillor Mike Bird who represents Pheasey Park Farm said: “It is regrettable what has happened over the youth centre and we will continue to look for a site for Chuckery. We have gone out of our way to find provision.”
After local people staged a successful campaign to save Chuckery Corner Green and to halt the use of a disused bakery close to family homes and businesses, residents made a number of suggestions for viable alternative sites. The council rejected all the suggestions and has so far, not divulged the sites that they have investigated in spite of repeated requests for this information.