OVER the last few weeks the topic of young people gathering in Blackburn town centre has been featured in the paper, giving an impression they had nowhere else to go.

I think it is important to identify some of the alternative options provided by the Council for young people.

In addition to all the swimming pools, leisure facilities. libraries and museums that we open on Saturday, a number of special events have been developed to offer a positive alternative to just hanging around in the town centre.

Consultations were carried out between the months of May-November 2003 with young people in the precinct in Blackburn. The results indicated that the teenagers would like somewhere to go and relax with their friends and films were mentioned by at least 75 per cent of the young people consulted.

To ensure that the projects are successful, a team promotes the activity from 12.30 in the precinct every Saturday until 2pm when the film starts. This is to encourage young people to partake in all activities held in the library.

In early December staff from the culture, leisure and sport department began showing films in the library to young people on Saturday afternoons. There have been 40-60 attending per session between the ages of 11-23.

Young people have responded positively to these new initiatives for example. "Blackburn Brightest" is a series of presentations at the library be people aged 16-24 years who have done extraordinary things, like Usman who is returning from Hajj at age 19 and will be describing his experiences on March 20 at the Library and Shauna who at 23 hiked the Great Wall of China for charity.

I understand that shopping is a popular leisure activity at all ages but felt it was important to draw your attention to the number of alternatives for young people provided by the culture, leisure and sport department.

Councillor H AKHTAR, Lead Member -- Leisure and Culture, Blackburn with Darwen Council.