Bored young people in Abridge are being asked to "put their case" for the after-school and weekend activities they would like to see provided in the village.

The message from parish council chairman Pat Price follows a consultation meeting in Abridge village hall attended by around 30 local teenagers.

And while no firm consensus was reached, a discussion chaired by Epping Forest young person's officer Rashid Ali generated a wealth of ideas and suggestions.

These included a request for minibus outings and an all-weather playing surface suitable for football and other sports to be provided.

Widespread support was also expressed for a suggestion that young people could be provided with a room equipped with seating and a television in which to hang out and socialise.

One 12-year-old boy added that this could include pinball and other table football along with food and drink vending machines.

However, it was not agreed what level of adult supervision would be needed or what the best venue for a drop-in centre or youth club facility would be.

An earlier meeting with the young people at the end of July had led to suggestions that a skateboard or adventure playground facility could be built somewhere in the village.

But with the winter evenings now drawing in, this suggestion attracted less support than previously - with one 15-year-old boy warning that anything that was built would remain at risk of getting vandalised.

Despite this, the meeting ended on a positive note when two of the young people - Samantha Howells and Jodie Woodman - volunteered to carry out a survey of ideas in time for the next parish council meeting on Wednesday, October 24.

The meeting also saw Pancroft resident Yvonne Keane offer to act as a liaison between the young people, the parish council and the Lambourne Community Safety Group.

Speaking this week, Pat Price said it was hoped that a group of young people's representatives could be formed to work with the parish council.

But she also stressed that some of the projects being suggested would need the practical support of parents.

She added: "We'll see from the young people's survey what the majority would like to have provided for them. "We'll then look at what might be possible in the event of both funding and a suitable location being found.

"Should any project under consideration involve the use of facilities which belong to a local organisation, we have told the youngsters they would have to put their case across in order to persuade people that they are both genuine and responsible."

Any young person who wishes to comment on what after-school activities they would like to see in Lambourne and Abridge can do so by contacting Yvonne Keane on 01992 814179

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