I AM interested to see that Haxby and Wigginton have just received a Lottery grant of £165,000 when they already have youth facilities.

Strensall, however, has no working facilities for young people. I know many of my age that are also unhappy with the situation. The only club I know of closed before I was old enough to attend.

Strensall, like Haxby and Wigginton, has been expanding for many years but still does not have a youth club. The nearest is at Huntington School and this is not convenient. There is a new community centre within Strensall Army camp but this is run by the Ministry of Defence.

Young people of Strensall have the same needs as those of Haxby and Wigginton. So why is it we have nothing? Is this because adults in Strensall community have not realised that we are here, we are standing on street corners, we are getting wet, we are using bus shelters because we have nowhere else to go?

Under-18s find it increasingly difficult to make their views heard. We have never been given the chance to express our views about this problem. Young people do not have enough 'life experience' to know how to approach such a major issue. I hope this letter highlights the situation and brings it to somebody's attention.

Tom Hull (15),

Melcombe Avenue,

Strensall, York.