Youth cafe success

MORE than five hundred young people flocked through the doors of The Square Caf in Hailsham over the last month, breaking all attendance records and enforcing its popularity still further.

According to Inspector Tim Piloni of Hailsham police, youth crime and anti-social behaviour increased significantly in the town during the youth caf s recent two week break.

Now the centre, which provides free internet access, video games, Sky TV, pool facilities, a music studio and cheap food and drink, is to stay open for five evenings a week. Young people aged 14 to 25 years can go along between 7.30pm and 9.45pm.

Attached to the caf , which is located inside the council-owned 1 Market Square building, is the Foyer youth accommodation project for young people in need of a temporary place to stay while they get themselves on their feet. Lack of move-on accommodation has been an ongoing problem for its residents.

At a town council meeting on Monday, members praised the success of The Square Caf project and its leader, Andy Joyes, for all his hard work.

Cllr Nick Ellwood said: 'We would like to thank Andy Joyes for his tireless efforts. We are a victim of our own success in a way, because now we need extra helpers to allow the caf to stay open longer.

Cllr Ian Haffenden added: 'I have heard councillors criticise the project in the past, and I have heard it called a white elephant. Now, with increasing popularity and evidence from the police of its success, we can see that it is those criticising councillors who are the real white elephants.