FEATURE: What next for Mr Smith's?

But as the discussions to decide the fate of the iconic building in the town centre continue to rumble on, it appears the plans could be stopped in their tracks before the starting whistle has even been blown.

Last year, the Warrington Guardian reported that members of the council’s executive board are split on whether the proposal should go ahead. Some senior Labour councillors are believed to be wary of borrowing the £3m needed to restore the former nightclub as council cuts continue to bite.

It is not yet known when the final verdict will be made but council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill said it is a difficult decision given the financial pressures facing the local authority. 

Cllr Jean Carter (Great Sankey South – LAB),

who is the portfolio holder for children’s services, added: “I have visited the youth zone in Wigan to see what a great scheme it is and I can assure you my fellow Labour councillors and I all agree with the principle of providing the best possible services for young people."

(click to watch video and see how Mr Smith's could look...)

“But Warrington, unlike many councils in the south of England, has had its budget slashed by the 

Coalition Government and we operate in difficult financial times. We have a duty to all taxpayers to provide the best possible facilities within our available budgets.”

It is no secret that tough cutbacks have been made in recent years, including a restructuring of children’s centres in the town. Cllr Colin Froggatt (Poulton South – LAB) said the question is about ‘affordability not desirability’.

He said: “The council is dealing with many competing priorities during this period of austerity and not all desirable projects can be funded.

“Priority needs to be given to the most vulnerable in the town by targeting spending specifically on the most needy. Recent budget decisions have seen some of these services being cut in order to keep within tight financial boundaries.”

Councillor Ian Marks (Lymm – LD) believes there in a ‘tremendous need’ in Warrington for the youth zone but also has reservations about the plans. He said: “I am supportive of the plans but subject to checks that there is a sound business case and the council is not left with any liabilities.

“We do not want the private sector money to dry up and the council to be left with the bill.”

Paul Kennedy (Hatton, Stretton and Walton – Conservative) added: “It would be a phenomenal facility to have but with that comes a very substantial capital cost for the council of £3m.”

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Lauren recently went to visit Wigan Youth Zone to see first-hand how the investment has made a difference to the town.

THE multi-million pound youth zone in Wigan is situated in the heart of the town making it easily accessible to those using public transport.

Its location bears some similarities to the potential site in Warrington, which looks set to be built at Mr Smith’s just off Wilson Patten Street near to Bridge Foot in the town centre.

As you step into the youth zone, you are met with excited children as they hurry along to one of the number of classes on offer.

Kian Brookes, aged 12, from Wigan, said: “I have been coming here since it opened and it has really helped my confidence.

“It helps you make more friends by signing up to try new things.”

From a traffic-light colour-coded menu to signal healthy food options to youth zones mini-buses on standby to pick up children, it would appear OnSide has covered almost everything “There isn’t a swimming pool here,” said Kian. “But you don’t miss it as there’s one nearby. It has everything you want and you never get bored.”

The Wigan Youth Zone also boasts an impressive outside area which includes sports pitches and a skate park.

There is an enterprise room, which was designed to help create the next generation of entrepreneurs, and a girls-allowed room that aims to create a safe haven for young women to talk about any issues they may have.

There’s even a cookery room, dubbed Hell’s Kitchen, where the youngsters can channel their inner Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood.

The zone is not just a place to hone talents and new skills but it has also helped to tackle problems surrounding anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Since the inception of the Wigan Youth Zone in 2013, police have seen considerable reduction in ASB levels.

Officers recently reported a 77 per cent drop in ASB in the area.

The catalyst of the drop in ASB was linked to the youth zone by preventing too many young people from spending their evenings on the streets or joining the adult world of pubs and clubs long before they should.

Deputy leader of Wigan Council Cllr David Molyneux said the youth hub has given many young people the opportunity to take part in a number of positive activities – both educational and recreational – ensuring they have the best start in life.

He added: “The youth zone is an excellent example of the facilities available for young people right here in Wigan Borough and has become a valuable asset to both young people and their families.”

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A FITNESS suite, a boxing gym, a film and multi-media studio and a climbing wall are just some of the facilities you can expect to find in the town’s proposed first youth zone.

The plans by OnSide reveal that the derelict building will undergo a major facelift to provide a safe and affordable place for young people to go.

The youth base, which is designed to give young people aged eight to 19 a place to spend their leisure time, was launched to provide an environment for children and teenagers to socialise and learn new skills.

It can also be used by young people with disabilities up to the age of 25.

The aim is to provide an alternative activity for those who would normally spend their evenings on the streets or stuck inside watching TV.

If the plans go ahead, the youth zone will also comprise of a sports hall, arts and fashion room and radio booth.

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'Kids deserve the best, says chairman Bill Holroyd

"THERE is a clear need for a youth zone in Warrington.

These are the views of the chairman of OnSide Bill Holroyd (pictured below) who strongly believes now is the time to give the young people of Warrington a place they can call their own.

He added that the proposed plans to create a base for youths will ‘blow them away’ with its range of activities and facilities which will be on offer at affordable prices.

If the plans are given the green light, young people in the town will be able to buy an annual membership to the youth zone costing £5.

After signing up, each visit will cost 50p per person and this will enable the youngsters to gain access up to 20 activities each evening.

Mr Holroyd said: “The sad truth is that we have lost the art of looking after our young people in their leisure time.

“Youth clubs have pretty much disappeared when you consider how prevalent they used to be in the 60s and 70s.

“But the need for young people to have somewhere safe and inspiring to go in their leisure time has not been diminished – in fact it’s more relevant than ever.”

The Youth Zone will be created from the existing Warrington Youth Club (WYC) charity, which is currently based at the Peace Centre.

This will enable WYC to expand its services to reach more young people in town.

The youth zone will act as an independent charity and will form part of OnSide’s network with its team on hand to provide support.

By developing a youth zone in Warrington, it will create a place that the young people deserve says Mr Holroyd.

He added: “Everything they have will be the best. Why should the kids not have the best when they are the citizens of the future?”

But the site will not be restricted to the use of WYC. Other organisations targeting young people will be encouraged to use the facilities.

Mr Holroyd also acknowledges the reservations by the council to put up the £3 million but said it would be a worthwhile investment.

He said: “The majority of the money is not coming from the council but from other people and individuals.

“Warrington really needs this – I don’t care want anyone else says.”

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IN NUMBERS

11,800 young people aged eight to 12 living in Warrington

17,100 young people aged 13 to 19 living in Warrington

£1.25 million the amount spent to acquire the former Mr Smith’s site

£5.5 million the cost to renovate the site

£3 million the amount the council has been asked to contribute to the £5.5 million

£3.5 million the amount that will be donated from individual donors and companies to make up the £5.5 million

5 the number of youth zones that have already opened

20 the number of youth zones which are expected to be open by 2020 

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE COUNCIL'S SPENDING

COUNCILS across the country have been forced to make savings as they deal with dwindling budgets and Warrington is no exception.

Readers have not been shy in sharing their views on budget cuts as the council takes action.
From cutting back on waste collections to a restructuring of children’s centres, changes to services were inevitable.

But do you agree with £3 million being spent by the council on a youth zone in the heart of the town?

Have your say on what the council should be spending the money on by tweeting @warringtonnews or e-mailing lauren.hirst@nqnw.co.uk.