IT DOES not matter what the tax paying and voting residents of Crediton want, or need; the Town Council has voted to spend the £5,000 Tesco has donated to the town on a teen shelter for the non-tax paying and non-voting teenagers, without even consulting the residents of Crediton to ask for their views.  Why?

Copplestone has had a teen shelter for several years now yet our councillors refused to consult the residents and councillors of Copplestone to get feedback on their teen shelter.  Why? 

If there are any residents of Copplestone who want to offer feedback on the teen shelter, please write to the Courier with your experiences.

In Crediton in 1980, teenagers had a choice of joining the Rugby club, the Football club, playing Skittles, or going to the pub.

Today, in Crediton teenagers have the opportunity to play rugby, football, cricket, tennis, badminton, squash, racketball, golf, snooker, darts, skittles; they can join the scouts, girl guides, army cadets, judo club, drama club, dance academy, arts centre, youth club, and take part in fitness classes, gym, fencing, circuit training, poker tournaments, the Ten Tors Challenge and make use of the recently opened £80,000 tax payer funded skate-park, plus the extra-curricula activities that QE encourage the teenagers to take part in.

Those teenagers with a serious work ethic, initiative, and ambition now have Tesco and Morrisons in Crediton, both of whom offer excellent management training programmes leading to secure and rewarding careers with above-average incomes.

My experience with my twin lads is that over the past 15 years they have gone from Hayward's to QE right up to the Sixth Form and I can confirm that there is nothing wrong with the schools, teachers, classes, or with the facilities in this town.  My lads had more than enough activities to keep them occupied and challenged to help prepare them for the real world.

Yet, Cllr. David Nation has been quoted as saying that the teenagers have been "neglected".  How? 

So, where will this teen shelter be built?  Since David Nation initiated this project and his Liberal Democratic colleagues support this shelter, I propose that the shelter be built at the top of George Hill. 

This is near David's house so he can blow his trumpet if the shelter is a success and he can quickly nip in the bud any teething problems that may arise from the shelter. 

Alternatively, there is a lovely well kept big empty piece of land on Westernlea road (away from the pubs and off-licenses) which has the benefit of another two of the councillors living nearby who support the teen shelter who can reassure any anxious neighbours.    

Apparently, the councillors prefer it to be built in Newcombes Park – I wonder if the residents living around Newcombes Park have been asked for their views?

Michael Szabo

Crediton

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