Shropshire teenagers say the media’s demonisation of youths is bad for everyone.

Tanya Davies, Donna Roberts and Faye Rees make a regular trip to Telford from Newtown

A bench, a bus stop, a play area or even a shopping centre. All popular meeting places for teenagers.

They have been for generations. But these gatherings often create something of a problem for the people looking on from the sidelines.

The problem is teenagers tend to gather in large numbers and can be loud, sometimes obnoxious and their dress sense often leaves something to be desired – at least when looked at by those of an older age group.

So they can attract unwanted attention. But now it seems teenagers may have had enough of feeling they are not welcome, with a letter to the Shropshire Star sparking an intense debate about such gatherings and whether teenagers are targeted unneccesarily.

The letter from Sascha Knight from Telford claimed the town’s main shopping centre was discriminating against teenagers after she and several friends were asked to move on by a security guard and then threatened with being evicted.

She found their treatment particularly unfair, making the valid point that this age group spend their money in the centre being ardent fans of such stores as Primark, Asda and McDonald’s

The letter got a lot of support, not just from fellow teenagers but older generations who had remembered similar treatment in their youth.

But there were also comments that young people don’t spend enough time outdoors, and that large groups could be intimidating.

In that first flush of independence when parental supervision is not necessary but youth and lack of a decent disposal income make it difficult to do many of those more acceptable socialising activities, what is the answer?

I visited Telford Shopping Centre during the Easter school holidays to see how people felt about the issue – whether there actually is a problem and whether teenagers do indeed feel discriminated against.

The general opinion was not. Most of the young people I spoke to in that crucial 14-17 age bracket said they had always enjoyed a friendly welcome in the centre, with some admitting that many teenagers could often be their own worst enemy by giving off the wrong impression.

But I also met adults and parents who are only now starting to understand things from a teenager’s point of view as their own offspring reach that age.

Two such parents, Val Gant from Newport and Kerry Wilkes from Edgmond, talked openly about their conflicting and sometimes confessing views.

Point of view

The two friends were out shopping with their children – Val has three children and Kerry two, all aged between eight and 14.

“My oldest son James is now 14 and it is difficult to know how to approach this issue,” said Val.

“Before I had children in this age bracket I would have been among the first to find a large group of teenagers intimidating or at least troublesome and glad of a security guard who might move them on.

The Three Horseshoes pub in Alveley has opened its doors to teenagers, allowing them to use the pool table, jukebox and play computer games.

“But now I am starting to see it from James’ point of view. He’s getting too old to want to spend all of his time with his family but what is there for him to do with his friends? I know I would probably rather he was somewhere fairly safe but yes I would hope and sincerely believe he would be polite and respectful of anyone he came into contact with of whatever age. I also think hoodies and certain dress does look intimidating and I won’t let James wear his hoodie with his hood up because I do think it looks antagonistic.”

Kerry agreed saying that she had an understanding for places such as the shopping centre who had a responsibility to all their customers but that being a teenager was often difficult when people were only too willing to jump to conclusions.

“People do seem to think that large groups are automatically up to no good when often they are simply just gathering together.

“But it is also a new responsibility for young teenagers and getting to know about being part of a community and behaving as if you are without your parents there to make sure you behave well. I would like to see more facilities provided for them.”

Good reaction

Friends Chloe Childs and Tiegan McKay, both 13, of Broseley, said they regularly met friends at the centre but have never been asked to move on or threatened with eviction.

“No we have always had a good reaction here which we do appreciate. I have never seen anything like that happen but sometimes adults can be quick to make judgements and it can seem unfair,” said Tiegan.

Tanya Davies, Donna Roberts and Faye Rees, all aged 14, travel every school holidays to the centre from Newtown.

“We really like to come shopping here and we have never had a negative reaction but teenagers do often get hassled when they gather together in certain places but are not doing anything wrong,” said Donna.

Faye, however, does admit that some teenagers can often be their own worst enemy.

“Teenagers don’t always put across the best impression which is a shame because if you do you very rarely get any bad reactions from people.

“We come here during the school holidays and get the train because there is very little to do in Newtown. It’s great and we really like it but I do feel sorry too for other people our age if they do feel get treated unfairly.”

Tanya said shopping centres, such as Telford Shopping Centre were attractive places to meet because it was “indoors and it was free”.

Telford Shopping Centre was approached to give its views on the debate, but declined.

It seems some places, however – even those generally regarded as an adult’s domain – might be finally stepping up to try and solve the problem.

The Three Horseshoes pub in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, has opened its doors to teenagers allowing them to use the pool table, jukebox and play computer games. The scheme didn’t go down well with regular customers at first with a few objections from adults, but it is now working really well and has been hailed as a massive success.

Eighteen months after it was first launched landlord Alan Seabrooks has no regrets and the teenagers have proved a welcome addition.

So perhaps there is an answer to that age-old dilemma and it’s all about forcing the generations to mix and mingle and they may find they have more to say to each other than they ever might have predicted.

By Tracey O’Sullivan