RECREATION: Leisure facilities for Midlands teenagers

Seven sites in North Warwickshire have been earmarked to create leisure facilities for young people in a bid to reduce crime and boredom among teenagers.The 550,000 project will create purpose-built multi-use areas on recreation grounds. Simon Jones, sport and community development officer for Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, said: Following consultation with young people and the local community we recognised teenagers lacked facilities. The sites will be magnets for teens and we can send community outreach workers there to help engage them. We hope it will help reduce crime and drug problems. The council developed a public-private partnership with supplier SMP Playgrounds to provide the equipment. SMP also worked on the consultation side to get the kids involved in the design of the site, and helped apply for funding, said Jones. Work will finish in March 2003.