YOUNG people in Darwen have told politicians they want facilities including a graffiti board, football pitches and better access to the leisure centre.

The youngsters spoke out after engaging with council chiefs, an MEP and a prospective parliamentary candidate at a number of meetings.

MORE TOP STORIES:

A group including representatives from Darwen Vale and DACA met with Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for leisure, culture and young people Coun Damian Talbot, North West MEP Theresa Griffin and Labour's prospective candidate for next year's General Election Will Straw at Darwen Youth Centre in Knott Street, Reachout in Ash Grove and Cornfield Cliffe in Industry Street.

The meetings discussed a range of ideas including the use of the concrete football pitches at the old Moorland school site, the creation of graffiti boards at youth centres together with an exhibition of the best work, the possibility of new outdoor facilities where young people can convene in a safe environment, and ‘Leisure Centre Champions’ from each of the town’s secondary schools.

And following the meetings, all these ideas are to be taken forward.

Coun Talbot and Miss Griffin will also examine whether funds from the European Union might be available for larger projects.

Coun Talbot said: “It is critical that young people feel that they are listened to.

"Although the scale of cuts forced on the council makes any expensive new projects hard to fulfil, we must make sure that the existing facilities in Darwen, like the leisure centre, are being properly used and that ideas that don’t have a big cost associated are taken forward.”

Will Straw said: "This meeting was the culmination of a series of meetings with young people and youth workers from across Darwen.

"We listened to a series of ideas, took them away to see what was possible and have come back with a really concrete list of ways in which young people can have more to do in Darwen.

"I am really pleased that this initiative has shown this group of young people that it is worth engaging in a political process.

"By coming together and putting across their point of view, these young people and youth workers have forced local politicians to listen to them and take up their ideas.”

Miss Griffin said: "We have had some really valuable conversations with young people about the provision needed on local, national and European levels, to place them centre stage here in the North West and at the heart of law-making and policy."