YOUNGSTERS in Rastrick have a new place to hang out, thanks to the efforts of local police and other groups.
A youth shelter has been put up in Bramston Street Park, specifically for young people to meet and socialise.
"A lot of consultation took place before anything was done," said Fiona Pearson, community advocate project officer for the Rastrick Circle Project. "We chatted at length with Circle Project Panel members and also worked very closely with Calderdale Councillor Paul Rogan and the local parks manager, Mr Brian Mansfield, to get the project going.
"It seemed like a natural choice to put the shelter in the park where local young people tended to congregate anyway."
The Circle Project - running in areas across Calderdale and Wakefield - is a Government-funded scheme to improve the quality of life for local people. It was launched in six areas in April. Each area has a project officer and a panel of residents and representatives from schools, businesses and youth groups.
The project officers are supported by West Yorkshire Police and police community support officers.
Sgt Andy Wilkinson, of Brighouse Police, said: "We were getting a lot of calls about youths hanging around, which made residents apprehensive.
"It was the fear of crime and the way the youths were perceived rather than crime actually being committed that was the problem.
"By putting the shelter in the park we hope that young people will take ownership of it.
It is a safe environment for them in a well-lit area."
