YOUNG people in Amesbury could soon have a new place to hang out with their friends.

Concerns have been raised that large groups of youngsters have been congregating outside Co-op stores in the town, resulting in the police being called on several occasions.

A meeting was held at the end of November to discuss the problem and around 20 young people along with town councillors and police community support officers attended.

“All these youngsters want is somewhere they can see their friends, have a cup of coffee and chat,” the mayor of Amesbury Jan Swindlehurst told the town council last Tuesday.

“They don’t want formal, organised activities; just somewhere they can keep their things and use as a base.

“They don’t want to get into trouble with the police but they do want to be out late with their friends and not keep getting moved on all the time.”

Cllr Fred Westmoreland suggested that the Redworth Activity Centre on Holders Road, could provide a solution to the problem.

The centre is used two nights a week by adults with disabilities who are members of the Redworth Club, but cllr Westmoreland said he would like to see it used by young people on other nights of the week.

“It’s got all the facilities like a television, Wii and karaoke but once the club has finished on a Thursday night it’s not used again until Monday,” he said.

“It would make the perfect venue for a drop in centre or youth café. All we’d need is some volunteers to run it.”

The town council agreed to investigate the idea and hold another meeting with the town’s teenagers at a date to be confirmed to discuss it.