THIS is an open letter to Hope Carr Youth Club members.

May I through The Journal attempt to explain the sad demise of Hope Carr Youth Club.

We are a group of 13 volunteers, who are not salaried, operating for the benefit of Siddow Common estate for 18 months.

During this time we have operated a youth club for members aged 10-15 years, done community events, aromatherapy sessions and still run prize bingo at the Pennington pub incorporating senior citizens and anyone else expressing an interest in this activity.

Our base for the youth club was the Albert Tatum Centre on Hope Carr Road, which we ran every fortnight on a Thursday (7-9pm). This brought welcome relief for parents and people on the estate, knowing their teenage children had a warm, safe environment as promised in our induction pack.

Over the period of 18 months we began to notice the neglect and lack of maintenance with regards to the building. These issues were discussed at every meeting we held and are recorded in the minutes.

These issues were brought to the attention of the leaseholder with the help of one local councillor, Kevin Anderson, who may I add was the only one to show any interest or concern in helping us try and get something done.

We understood that finances are a problem for the centre and that even after a £4,000 grant was spent on the building, this was still not sufficient to make the building's ceiling safe.

The final decision was made when on our return, no lights were operable in the kitchen and a piece of ceiling fell down, and water continued to drip in to the centre adjacent to an electrical supply.

I could no longer continue with a clear conscience.

Action taken was to inform environmental health who duly inspected the building and took it from there.

Words quoted on an advisory note were that water and electricity do not mix. As the problem had been brought to the leaseholder's attention in June via a letter requesting him to check all electrics for health and safety reasons, which seemed a small request in view of the rent charged -- £20 for two hourly sessions -- we feel that Siddow Common Community Help Group let us down badly. Where was the help?

Our AGM is taking place on February 22 in the Pennington pub (7.30pm) for anyone to attend, including the young members of Hope Carr Youth Club.

L Kenyon

Secretary/Team Leader

HCYC Management Committee