Views of centre manager

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 9

Views of centre manager

The manager of the centre, Mr Paul Jenkins, said the centre had not attracted any more trouble than had been there before. “The area round the Square has always been a trouble spot. I don’t think it has got any worse,” said Mr Jenkins. “What we are trying to do is upgrade the area — that has always been the aim of the centre.”

Mr Jenkins said that people who were causing trouble were not allowed into the centre and gradaully more young people were feeling positive about the centre. “A lot of trouble can be caused by very few people, and they may never have been in the centre,” he said. “There is hardly ever any trouble inside the centre, and a greater cross-section of

young people are beginning to use it.” Efforts by the centre to improve the safety surrounding the building include plans to increase lighting in the vestibule, improve the entrance, and change the locks on the door leading to the Okinawa Te and dance studios. Mr Jenkins and the four staff at the centre had also approached some of

the nearby businesses to discuss any problems they had had, to try to seek solutions. “We have also been talking to the young people who use the centre about what is happening outside, and they have been responding well. If they can feel involved in postive activities within the centre, the negatiave activities will be replaced.”