COUNCILLORS are hoping the sight of youngsters loitering around on street corners in Tyldesley will become a thing of the past. A new project to give teenagers their own meeting place, dubbed a Teenmeet, is planned for Astley Street Park in the town. Meeting points will be developed in the park where teenagers can gather with friends away from houses to stop clashes with local residents.

Many young people say that when they are out with friends they are frequently moved on by police and some have complained they have experienced bullying.

The Teenmeet points will look something like a bus shelter.

They will have a roof to protect youngsters from the rain but will still be open on all sides.

They will be well-lit for the safety of the teenagers.

Cllr Stephen Hellier said:"The main aim is to stop youngsters hanging around on street corners. We plan to have two groups of three shelters in Astley Street Park. They won't just be in one location which should prevent them being taken over by a clique. Each shelter will provide comfortable seating for eight."

He added there was no completion date for the project as yet but work would be finished as soon as possible.

Cllr Brian Wilson added: "Young people don't always want to go to youth clubs and this will provide a place for them to meet up."

Young people were quizzed on what they thought about the special shelters being built especially for them.

The council hopes to give the Teenmeet facility a higher profile after 94 pc of teenagers in a survey said they had not heard of the idea.

Pupils at Fred Longworth High School and members of Tyldesley Youth Club were asked for their opinions and more than half said they would use the facility after it had been explained to them.

Only six percent said they would never use it.

Seven out of 10 young people said they would use the shelter to meet friends with 17 pc indicating it was "somewhere to go".

The survey revealed many youngsters had experienced problems while out with friends.

More than a third said they had been moved on by the police and 33 pc had experienced complaints from adults. Eight percent said they had been bullied by other youngsters.

More than half thought the Astley Street Park meeting place would improve things in the area for young people.

Cllr Hellier added there would be further publicity about the Teenmeet points and it was expected news should travel fast by word of mouth.

He said: "Residents have called for the council to intervene and provide somewhere for youngsters to go and we are carrying this request out."