Youth centre 'brave step’

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 1

Youth centre 'brave step’

The proposed Christchurch Youth Centre should not be linked with any trouble that occurs in Cathedral Square, says the centre’s manager, Mr Paul Jenkins. It should be seen as a brave and positive step to meet some of the needs of young people in Christchurch, he said yesterday. The centre is due to open in late August in the Cinerama Theatre building, Worcester Street. Mr Jenkins was critical of comments made on Tuesday by a Christchurch City councillor, Cr Matthew Glubb, about the siting of the centre Cr Glubb said the City Council might be contributing to problems of violence in Cathedral Square by siting the Youth Centre only 50 metres away. The Youth Centre was sited near Cathedral Square because it was the most accessible central place for young people in Christchurch, said Mr Jenkins. Most did not have their own

transport, but would be able to use buses to get to the centre.

“We are certainly not going to contribute to any problems in the Square. By involving young people in providing their own place and in determining what happens at the centre, we hope the attitudes of some young people change. “At the moment they are right in thinking that little consideration is given to them,” he said. Little entertainment was now provided for young people. They were too often drawn to hotels to listen to live music because there was nowhere else to go, said Mr Jenkins. The centre would provide a non-alcoholic venue for established bands and a place for the development of new local bands. Now was the time for Christchurch people to get behind a move such as the Youth Centre, and not to condemn it before it was given a chance, Mr Jenkins said.