Proposed YMCA swimming pool and youth centre

11.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

Young people in Peartree need something to do, and Robin Webb's ambitious project for a new YMCA in Peartree promises to give them just that.

Louise Lotz and Malcolm Cowan, now both councillors for Peartree Ward, have been campaigning for years for a swimming pool. When Stanborough Pool was closed after the foot and mouth crisis Louise and Malcolm were soon out campaigning for a replacement - photographed pointing to the derelict site and pleading for at least a paddling pool for the children. Gradually, as plans for the regeneration of Broadwater Road have become clear, the Liberal Democrats proposed that a swimming pool be located on the site.

In the last couple of weeks, plans have appeared for not one, but two swimming pools in Peartree Ward, and of course Louise and Malcolm are delighted to hear about this.

The latest proposal is exciting in its ramifications, as both Louise and Malcolm are interested in developing youth facilities within the ward. Robin's far-sighted proposals will clearly provide a visionary one-stop get-a-life centre for real children in the area. The consultation process has aimed to engage real kids about what they want now, and is not based on some Utopian set of theories about what is likely to be good for them or to get them off the streets. We have been touched and heartened to see the extent to which Robin and his team have found ways to reach out to young people and the views they have shared have provided the concrete basis for the new proposals.

Louise is on the steering committee for the proposed centre, and is looking forward to the possibility of working with the YMCA to develop pilot projects to test some of the proposals that are to result if the proposals are brought to fruition. So we hope that by doing this we can help the YMCA to provide something NOW for the young people whose views have generously provided the starting point for a project that will come to fruition when they are already young men and women.