New village youth group

Stoke Parish Council sent a delegation to put their case forward at Stoke village hall committee's annual general meeting. They said the building was an asset to the community and for young people.

Councillors assured committee members that no damage would be caused by activities there and if there was they would be responsible for it.

The committee unanimously agreed to make the hall, which is in Hanbury Road, available to them.

Councillor Sean Shannon said: "We are now waiting to hear from the county's youth service about provision for the group."

In previous meetings councillors have said that there was a definite need for a youth group in the village.

Although there had been problems in the past with youths using the hall, councillors said it was time to move forward. Some felt a youth group would give young people something to do and may address some of the anti-social behaviour problems in the area.

Cllr Elaine Sutor said the newly-formed Youth Neighbour Watch group in Stoke Heath was progressing well and there was a lot of hard work going on.

The youngsters, aged nine to about 14, were recently on a minibus to go bowling. The Multi Agency Resource Centre in Charford donated the minibus and petrol.

Cllr Shannon said another provision available to Stoke youths was bike workshops being held every Thursday from 4-6pm at the Ryland Centre, in New Road, Bromsgrove. This was a chance for youngsters to learn how to fix, repair, build and maintain their bikes.