I REFER to the article in the Evening Advertiser on October 31, entitled "Keeping the teenagers off our streets".

I applaud the efforts of Sue Martin to provide a youth facility on a Sunday night in Highworth. However is this really going to address the problem?

The article states that the youth centre is already open on two or three nights each week. Do these "isolated'' young people use the facility then? If not, why is it considered that another night will make a difference?

Young people in Highworth do have access to a range of activities similar to those on estates in Swindon. The lack of things to do in Highworth is no different from any other area.

All areas have an element of youth that does not see the reason for boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

While some of these young people will respond to additional facilities, there are those who will not. As a trained, part time, voluntary youth worker I have encountered both.

Unfortunately, there comes a time when you have to accept that nothing you do or provide for certain individuals will make any difference to the way in which they behave.

The anti-social traits which some of these young people display are so deep rooted that success in turning them around is unlikely.

A recent article highlighted a number of young people, who had previously been guilty of truancy, being given a day out at Butlins. This is not the way to address the issue.

Sound social education, firstly and most importantly in the home and reinforced in school, will go a long way to solving the problems created by a minority of young people.

It is only when they are made to realise that what they are doing is offensive and unacceptable by society that a change may be brought about.

In the meantime, those in the youth work sector, whether paid or voluntary, have to pick up the pieces and keep the peace.

I admire and wish success to anyone who wants to provide a service for young people. However, is the Sunday night in Highworth actually going to solve a problem?

Would it not be more beneficial for these young people to integrate with an existing youth club structure proving that they can accept boundaries before being rewarded with a night of their own?

I hope I am proved to be wrong and that the Sunday night is a success for all the young people in Highworth.

RESIDENT

Highworth

(Full name and address supplied)