Older generation 'snub interaction'

The 'new' community centre is never open in the evenings when I pass nor on the weekends when people have most time to use it.

As for his comments on the kids using the adjacent 'shelter'; I really don't think that the community centre itself wishes to make itself available to that demographic group.

It seems to me the older generation (as they have always done) don't wish to see interaction with this group of local residents and as such seem to deny them opportunity to use these sorts of precious community facility.

It’s almost as though they wish to exclude this group and then blame them when elements of them get a bit rebellous.

It’s a sad fact of life that media portrayal of the young is always negative unless of course they are risking their lives in a far off land.

How do they change this perception and situation? A good start would be to get themselves along to the tenants and community associations who run these places meetings and get their voices across.

Who knows, you might even find out that they are more switched on and have 'real' insight into how these places could be made viable in the longer term. If you continue to ignore them, it will only end in more unrest, concern and alienation of the people who are the future of the community.

Mick Ibbotson, Piper Close, Sheffield 5

WHISTON update, Friday, July 27 (7.20pm): Gang of 18 walking through our village - two girls, one literally carried! Absolutely smashed out of her brain, falling all over the place, gang proceeds onto the meadows shouting swearing, the two girls fighting, rest of gang demolish the stone bridge that spans the stream.

After a while two neighbours go out to retrieve a large knife thrown at the fence. Gang disperses. The girls shouting obscene language all along the road followed by the gang. Police called. Arrive about one hour later after the gang has gone.

Just another normal Friday night! This is after being visited by local CSOs to reassure us that the matter is being dealt with. Unfortunately they finish shift at 4pm. If you want to break the law do it after 4pm

Just let’s see how long it is before someone gets seriously injured in our village and see what the police have to say. The warning signs are there. Reports are made to the police - what action is taken? Public under age drinking, foul abusive language, carrying knifes, mindless vandalism. The list goes on the only one missing is parking on a yellow line.

David Greenslade