Bus fuss sparks search for new sites (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester bus fuss sparks search for new sites in Chesterton

9:20am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Laura Shack

A YOUTH bus in Cirencester is on the lookout for new locations in a bid to dim down complaints from "sick and tired" residents.

The weekly youth bus service in Chesterton, which was funded by Cotswold District Council and run by youth workers employed by Cirencester Town Council, encourages young people to socialise off the streets and offers confidential advice on sex, drugs and alcohol.

But an on-board DJ deck and groups of lively teenagers at the site means noise often "blasts out" to neighbouring homes on Springfield Road.

Now the youth team is in talks with Chesterton Primary School and looking at other alternative locations on the estate, so the bus can be moved around and disruption minimised for just one area.

At this month’s public Chesterton Community Group meeting, local residents said they were fed up with damage and noise caused by users of the service.

Kenneth Coxhead, of Springfield Road, said: "That music blasts out. We’ve got the late nights coming and this is where the problems start. I’m sick and tired of it."

He added that his fence had been broken three times by teenagers playing football by the bus and he had forked out around £600 in repairs.

Bromford and CTC youth worker Clare Bartlett encouraged residents to complain to youth workers on the bus if there was any problems.

"The young people are in our care when they’re on the bus and it’s our responsibility to deal with them," she said.

She added that the youth bus was a vital resource for the young people.

"Young people aged 14 and over can talk to an adult in confidence on things like relationships and drugs," she said. "We interact with them on their level and if they want more youth clubs we can help them to get the funding."