SIR – After I read the article in last week s WHT about the proposed swimming pool/pools in WGC, it struck me – as a young person in WGC – that this will not encourage youngsters off the street. There is no chance that a simple pool alone will cure the

SIR - After I read the article in last week's WHT about the proposed swimming pool/pools in WGC, it struck me - as a young person in WGC - that this will not encourage youngsters off the street.

There is no chance that a simple pool alone will "cure" the problem that we are seeing in areas like Money Hole, King George V and Knella Road.

Us "youth" need somewhere to "hang out" in an environment where they can be supervised.

While I agree that a swimming pool is quite a good idea, it would need to be something on the lines of the water park over in Hemel Hempstead to attract youngsters and even then it's not ideal - teenage girls will probably be most sensitive about using it, what with the pressures of having the perfect image these days and boys need something more entertaining.

The problem is that the councillors are of an older generation and do not know what is attractive to youngsters on the streets.

They don't seem to make the effort to go to areas like Woodhall, Knella etc. at night and actually ask the kids what they would rather be doing!

You may think this is a bit of a negative rant, but I just think that the money would be better off pumped around the separate areas of Welwyn/Hatfield and the surrounding villages.

For instance if it was spent to improve (or create) youth clubs at the shopping parades such as Hall Grove, Peartree, Haldens, High View or even the WGC Town Centre by Sainsbury's and in Hatfield it could attract kids off the street.

The facilities needed however, would have to be appropriate and supervised, with things to keep both genders occupied, such as TV/DVD area, a place to play computer consoles, a chatting area, an IT suite, a hot food area, etc.

The perfect example is the 6th form room at Monks Walk School, which accommodates for all.

Obviously it would cost a lot of cash, we would have to pay for supervisors, and it would have to be open until say 11pm, but I think this is what the council would be better off doing, rather than wasting their time on swimming pools, which clearly don't improve or sort out the area.

Look at the pool in Hatfield Town Centre, this does nothing to keep youth occupied.

A 20-year-old, from the Howlands Ward.