Action: St Oswald & Ruyton-XI-Towns

Press release - 14 September 2007

Action: St Oswald & Ruyton-XI-Towns

Facilities for young people in the St Oswald & Ruyton-XI-Towns divisions were discussed at the latest Action: St Oswald & Ruyton-XI-Towns local meeting pilot, held at West Felton Village Hall on Thursday 6 September.

Over 70 people, including 40 young people from across the borough, met with their local councillors to discuss local youth services. The meeting included a presentation by Jamie Taylor on his role as a member of the Youth Parliament, group work using large maps to highlight what services are currently being provided, and presentations from local young people on what they need locally. Suggestions included a youth shelter, monthly discos, improved play equipment and cricket nets.

It was agreed at the meeting to allocate £20,000 of the £40,000 budget to be spent on young people activities in the local area. All applications to the fund will be assessed by young people, and their recommendations will be brought to the next meeting of Action: St Oswald & Ruyton XI Towns on 10 January in Trefonen, where members will make the final decisions.

Application forms are avalible by emailing oswestry.localmeeting@shropshire-cc.gov.uk, on the web from www.oswestrybc.gov.uk and by phone from Martin Stephens, Principal Youth Officer on (01743) 254481. Applications should be returned to Youth Services, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND by 9 November.

The St Oswald and Ruyton-XI-Towns local meeting area covers Kinnerley, Knockin, Llanyblodwel, Llanymynech and Pant, Melverley, Oswestry Rural, Ruyton-XI-Towns and West Felton, and the Maserfield ward of Oswestry Town Council.

County Councillor Dilys Gaskill said, ”Thanks to everyone who came and contributed to such a useful event. I was particularly pleased to hear the views of so many young people. We have listened and acted by making this money available, so now it’s over to you. We need to receive applications from local young people on how this money should be spent, to make a real difference.”

Information about Action: St Oswald & Ruyton XI Towns is available at www.shropshire.gov.uk/localmeetings.nsf, from Nina Dunmore on (01743) 252718, or by email to oswestry.localmeeting@shropshire-cc.gov.uk.

Action: St Oswald & Ruyton XI Towns is one of five local meeting pilots being held in Shropshire over the next year. The pilot initiative will be reviewed after the cycle of four meetings, with a view to rolling out the scheme across the county.

ENDS

For further information, call Councillor Dilys Gaskill on (01691) 830094.
For media contact, call Nina Dunmore, Locality Officer, tel (01743) 252718.