A safe place for young people

WARRINGTON’S long-awaited town centre youth café will open on December 2 – offering a safe place for young people to meet friends, join in activities and get information and advice.
It will be very much a facility for young people, run by young people, according to borough council leader Terry O’Neill (pictured).
He said: “It will act as a hub for other youth provision in the town and young people will be able to gain information on the range of youth activities across Warrington.
“Access to these activities will be supported by the transport provided in partnership with other youth providers in the town.”
The café is nearing completion in the former Carphone Warehouse building in Time Square.
Originally, the former Liberal Democrat-Conservative administration had planned to use the former Lloyds-TSB bank building, also in Time Square, for the scheme.
But structural problems were discovered in the building and the project had to be abandoned.
At this week’s meeting of the full council, Liberal Democrat councillors queried whether the private sector were contributing to the cost of the facility, as in the original plan.
Cllr O’Neill said the council was receiving some help from the private sector in fitting out the building.
The café will formally open on December 2 with an event for young people who have been involved in planning the project.
The following day there will be a “fun day” and on December 16 an acoustic, Christmas-themed night will take place.