Floodlight bid for Dawson Road play area backed by Barnard Castle Town Council

A YOUTH-LED plan to illuminate a Teesdale games area has been backed by their senior counterparts.
Members of Barnard Castle Town Council were happy to back a request for floodlights at the Dawson Road play area from the fledgling town youth council.  Cllr Roger Peat, chairman of the services committee, said he’d been heartened by views and help he’d received from young people on Dawson Road.
“I have just been involved with getting the Galgate Greens connected up and I have experience of some of the pitfalls,” he added.
“I would like to discuss it and see what we can do – it’s a good idea, it’s worthwhile and I’d like to do it.”
Cllr Frank Harrison also gave the Dawson Road plan his wholehearted support.
The youth council was formed with the help of Teesdale YMCA and the town council earlier this year.
Member Josh Barker, 18, came up with the idea for floodlights at the five-a-side Muga (multi-use games area) and revealed his ideas to members last week.
“We would like to have our opinions listened to and get some say on what money should be spent on,” he added.  Hannah Parratt, from the YMCA, said the youth team was working well.
“The group is really good at critically talking about what should happen in an analytical way,” she added.
Town mayor Cllr John Blissett backed the Dawson Road plan and was happy with a representative from the youth council having a seat at the table on council committees.
“It’s something we need to do and we need to listen to the youth,” he added.
“I think it’s a good idea – it’s not a voting position but at least their voice is there.”
The plans for floodlights will be debated again by councillors at a future meeting.
Meanwhile, a plan to give the youth council control of £2,000 taxpayers’ money was backed by some members.
But others were a little concerned with the amount and where the money was going.
Cllr Peat said: “I’m not against it but £2,000 seems a lot of money.”
Cllr Sandra Moorhouse added: “We would not be against this – perhaps we need to look at what would be the best use of that money.”
Councillors agreed more discussions were needed on set up costs for the youth council.