A BETTER transport network, a youth cafe and a skate park are top of the wishlist revealed by a survey carried out by young people in Tavistock.
A report by the Tavistock and District Youth Council detailing the facilities teenagers want to see introduced in the area was enthusiastically welcomed by West Devon Borough Council last week.
Members of the youth council were invited to the council offices to discuss the youth appraisal, which canvassed the opinions of more than 530 young people aged between 13-18. Chief executive David Incoll and mayor of West Devon Cllr Richard Philips attended the presentation.
Among the report's conclusions, young people said they would like to take part in a variety of sports, but felt facilities in the area were limited. An evening cafe or coffee bar specifically for young people and a skate park were identified as key facilities.
Transport was another area of concern, with 56% complaining about the general lack of buses, particularly in the evenings. Ten per cent of those surveyed thought buses were too expensive and six per cent were concerned about the infrequency of the service.
Zoe Viggers, chair of Tavistock and District Youth Council, said: 'The youth appraisal went very well, and the response from the questionnaires was excellent. The council now has some good evidence of what young people want —and not what adults think they want.
'The meeting with Cllr Philips was a great success and we have been invited back to look around the council offices at a later date.'
She said the questionnaire had been kept simple to ensure clear responses. Now the Youth Council could go back to the people who had completed questionnaires and show them progress was being made.
Mr Incoll suggested the group draw up a 'shopping list' of facilities young people in the Tavistock area wanted to see, which would give the council clear long-term targets to consider in meeting young people's needs.
He said the youth appraisal was important, as it was a way of getting young people involved in local democracy.
Cllr Philips said he was very impressed with the widespread survey carried out by members of Tavistock and District Youth Council.
'It was a very positive meeting,' he said. 'The council will do everything in its power to try and help the youth council in its aims. The work they have carried out so far is commendable.'
The findings will be distributed to other organisations who are in a position to make changes such as the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, and the report will be put on display at the borough council's Tavistock offices.