Thirsk Clock finally moves to controversial new base (From The Northern Echo)

Thirsk Clock finally moves to controversial new base

11:33am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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A YOUTH centre is set to open after its long awaited controversial move to a new base despite the protests of locals scared its users will cause trouble.

Thirsk Clock youth cafe and community centre is set to complete its move to a new site behind St James Green Methodist Church.

The new building, a disused hall, has undergone an extensive refurbishment funded by grants from groups like Thirsk Regeneration Initiative.

The hall is located just off the town centre and local residents have strongly criticised the move as they fear youths will meet at the site leading to problems.

To combat the move they set up the St James Green Residents’ Association and they have also set up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

The fight to halt the move failed though and the Clock is set to hold an open day to show off its new premises and its services on Wednesday, March 31, between 2pm and 7pm.

Linda Gibbon, chairwoman of the Clock trustees, said measures had been put in place to try to prevent problems.

She said: "We are delighted to be moving in and grateful to the church for its hospitality.

"We have set up a liaison group between ourselves, the residents and the church to ensure we have open communication with each other.

"We’re looking forward to the young people moving in to the new building."

North Yorkshire county councillor for Thirsk, Gareth Dadd, said: "It’s happened and it’s there and we have to live with it.

"I very much hope that whatever the past differences on both sides in this long running debate that they agree to disagree and begin working together."

Thirsk Clock started in 2003 to provide a safe meeting place for youngsters at a base in the town’s Market Place.

Its staff offer advice and support on a number of issues and plans to move to the former Fourways guesthouse, on Station Road, fell through in 2006.

It was forced into finding a new home after its landlord, the Nationwide Building Society, told it to leave last year.

A search for suitable premises saw it granted approval by the St James’ Methodist church council to use the hall leading to the locals’ concerns.

Nick Redfern, chairman of the residents’ association, said: "It’s a fait accompli and the association is not happy but we will have to live with it and see how it goes.

"We’re not optimistic that it will be as quiet and peaceful as the Clock and its friends would like us to believe.

"We’re worried about anti-social behaviour coming to the area. We’re not against the Clock’s work we just believe that this is in the wrong place."

He added that Thirsk Police is working on a dispersal order which allows it to move groups on from certain areas.

The residents’ group is to ask that St James Green is included in the order if it becomes a reality.