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Reverend Martin Caesar said he "welcomed" the suggestions
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Crowthorne Parish Council drops support for HopeZone

By Hugh Fort
September 07, 2012

A council has suspended its support for a drop-in youth centre to be built and suggested a test-run because of concerns from the community about anti-social behaviour.

Instead, Crowthorne Parish Council voted in favour of trialling the HopeZone at Morgan Centre, Crowthorne, rather than a new build on the recreation ground, at its meeting on Tuesday.

The council agreed to regularly monitor anti-social behaviour and demand to be initially reviewed at three months.

Anti-social behaviour fears over new HopeZone plan

Reverend Martin Ceaser, chair of the HopeZone Committee, said: “We welcome the suggestions the council have made and will work with them.”

HopeZone’s plans to build on the recreation ground will go before Bracknell Forest planning committee in due course.

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Most recent user comments 11 of 11

As you clearly ARE going on about it, I once again respond in kindness to thank you for your well formulated and generous words Rev. See you Sunday Morning.

Timothy Jefferies
10/09/2012 at 17:24

My beef with this is the assumption that the kids will cause mayhem because once upon a time some other kids once caused troubled there.

Also, I have been irritated by Mr Jeffries invading other totally-unrelated stories to beat us all with his HoepZone agenda.

This still leaves a bad taste in the mouth to me really but I shan't go on about it.

Megaman
10/09/2012 at 16:58

Further good points Tim......I'm in no way knowledgeable about this matter but it strikes me that common sense has been overlooked in the pursuit of this plan (although from my perspective common sense and religion aren't exactly on nodding terms).

Maybe an alternative way of looking at it would be to use the example of things here in Bracknell. Building and developing of new office space when there's enough lying around already - the council too happy to bulldoze and redevelop sites across the town instead of a bit of arm twisting to get the vacant properties filled up first. Meanwhile much needed improvements in facilities for the fine citizenry get overlooked.

Woods and trees.

Winstanley, Bracknell
10/09/2012 at 16:02

A safe alternate, given the amount of cash the Baptist Church led enterprise has, would be to employ a part time secular Youth Worker. This would add credence to the initiative as one of care for our Children and not one, as is currently thought, based in the quagmire of proselytisation.

Timothy Jefferies
10/09/2012 at 13:48

Many thanks for the clarity Win... yes Hopezone will be allowed to use the existing Council premesis for the Youth activity as they warn (quote) "It has become clear that there is sufficient concern that the HopeZone proposal to build a new independent facility on the Morgan Recreation Ground has the potential risk of undermining all the good work that has been achieved in mitigating anti-social behaviour. "

There are two further points of interest:

1. The good people of Crowthorne will of course expect the Church to PAY the council for the facility to cover fuel costs etc...Hopezone has a total net worth of £11,146 (http://companycheck.co.uk/company/07525887) and the residents certainly should not be contributing to this Church run activity. 2. The Council should also insist that staff should provide evidence of industry recognised training (not faith based) in Youth Work, including enhanced CRB checks etc...for the safety of our marvelous Young People.

Timothy Jefferies
10/09/2012 at 13:41

Megaman - you don't appear to have read the substance of this ongoing palaver. My good friend Mr Jefferies makes some pertinent points - including the fact that his children are part of the church.

As an outsider looking in it strikes me that the objections raised concern the building of a specific centre for the youth of Crowthorne on the recreation ground, when facilities elsewhere already exist within the village. But of course elements within the church (as usual in my opinion) plead a special case based on this nebulous notion of 'faith'.

It could be argued that in fact it is these elements within the local church who are the NIMBYS and not locals who wish to preserve the recreation ground for ALL of Crowthorne to enjoy, young and old - faithful and faithless.

Winstanley, Bracknell
10/09/2012 at 09:35

Tim, you must be delighted. You can now sleep easily in the knowledge your house will not drop in value as your persistent whining about the "magnificent" youth of the village has paid off.

Congratulations to the Parish Council for bowing to unsubstantiated nimbyism from people who live in terror of the totally unproven belief these "magnificent" young people will kick in their fence, or, gasp, make noise.

Megaman
10/09/2012 at 09:02

what is grassroots Church coming to when 'bought in' Clergy try to shoe horn their way in to a community by seemingly trying to please the Church that pays them. The Baptist church denomination make a point of saying that the minister is a member of their Church first and a 'minister' second. My question would be: Would they be still feel called to that same Church if this was an unpaid and that's all they were, a member? I have heard that the minister of the local Vineyard Church does not draw an income, yet still does good work without taking to the press.

Timothy Jefferies
08/09/2012 at 21:29

In contradiction to Tom Edwards comments, Crowthorne Parish Council are certainly not ignoring the magnificent Youth of our Community, in fact they are supporting them in their transition to adulthood. It is known amongst the Youth (of which my Children are a part of) that Hopezone sells cheaper drinks and sweets than the Corner shop and this is the reason why the majority go, and then leave the drop in, 5 minutes later. Not good Youth Work in my opinion, or indeed good for local trading, this method of Youth activity from Crowthorne Baptist Church led Hopezone seems more 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' than 'Soul Survivor' I applaud the Council on this understandably cautious and stepped approach. Hopezone still does not have any professional Youth Workers. In his recent letter to Get Bracknell Mr.Ceaser unfathomably suggested, by way of barbed comment, presumably because he did not get his way, that the local community does not extend its value's to our Young People. This is completely ridiculous as it is clear that the local community, with its concerns and voice of reason, is directing the Council to that which needs to be done for the benefit of our Youth.

Timothy Jefferies
08/09/2012 at 15:46

What the hell is there for kids to do? Well Tom....

In my day there was smoking, shoplifting, knock-down-ginger, petty vandalism, teenage pregnancy, glue sniffing, bunking off school, inter-school fighting, bullying, casual arson, discovering a tattered copy of Razzle in the bushes.....

...oh, and homework.

I'm sure that's quite enough for the kids to be getting on with.

Winstanley, Bracknell
07/09/2012 at 16:29

ah - how typical .... the local Parish Council ignores the youth of the community ...... Can’t have this here we might have marauding gangs of hoodie wearing teenagers looking mean and moody .... the very presence of teenager makes me fear for my life! Let’s ban bus stops with seats - especially near old people homes, or day care centres ... I feel intimidated by a group of pensioners ......

I agree with the idea of trying it at the Morgan Centre [and pumping a little money into centres coffers is also good ..... ] but I hate the presumption that having a Youth facility will automatically lead to anti-social behaviour.

you cannot object to a pub on the grounds that it MIGHT led to noise, or it MIGHT lead to anti-social behaviour ...... you must be able to back up your words with evidence. the same applies here ... this is a lot of rubbish from Nimby’s who have no prove just unproven concerns.

If the scheme goes ahead at the Morgan Centre and there is no increase in anti-social behaviour then I hope the Parish council changes its mind and fully supports it!

What the hell is there for kids to do!?