COMPLAINTS about the unruly behaviour of a group of teenagers in Cirencester has prompted a debate about a lack of provision for young people in the town.

A number of incidents which have caused concern to residents and businesses have been reported, with the most serious coming when teenagers set fire to rubbish outside Subway in Cirencester last Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed a boy and girl removing rubbish from the bins in the courtyard before setting them alight.

Subway staff have suffered verbal abuse and there have also been other reports of similar concerning incidents at restaurants McDonalds and KFC, with disruption being caused across Cirencester.

After the fire incident, a number of residents took to social media to vent their frustrations and ask for something to be done about the situation.

One of those to comment was Lady Bathurst, who said she feels a lack of facilities for teenagers is part of the problem.

“I do see young people’s frustrations.”

Lady Bathurst said: “There aren’t many services about for them in Cirencester. There’s only the skate park and Ozone Youth Services, no cinema or bowling alley so young people are bored and when young people are bored they’ll start making mischief.

“If there isn’t something in place I’d like to maybe organise something which give young people somewhere to go and give them something to engage in so this might stop occurring but I’d need a lot of support from the council, police so I may not be the one to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

“I’ve had people get in touch saying a child in their family was involved asking if I can help so I think we do need to start providing for young people in the community.”

Her comments were mostly received well and she hopes to work with parents to figure out a plan of action.

“I cannot promise an overnight cure, but any thoughts would be really interesting as I’d really love to do something to help.”

Other commenters mentioned groups in the area which may be of interest, while also lamenting the demise of youth clubs and even talking up the return of a carnival.

Referring to last week’s fire incident, Sgt Garrett Gloyn of Cirencester Police said: “We believe that we know them.

“Several previous arrests have been made with regards to the behaviour of these two people.

“Their case files have been sent to a youth offending team and we’re liaising with social care and local housing providers to address their conduct. Young offenders are referred to Gloucestershire Children’s First. They review evidence and the circumstances of the people in question and recommend whether they are summoned to attend court, be given a police caution or to engage in some other programme to divert their offending behaviour. On the back of an earlier arrest it was to divert their offending behaviour but that may change following further incidents.”