Raided club is safe, say teens (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Raided club is safe, say teens

From left, Callum McConnell, Tom Gallon, Mike Sparks and Rory Dunnne, of the band The Worst Story. Ref: 78837-31YOUNG music fans packed a teenage club night two weeks after it was raided by police.

And the youngsters at Area 51, in Stratton, say it is a great place for them to have fun in a safe environment.

Teenagers over 14 are allowed into the club but alcohol is only served to over-18s.

Danielle Spice, 16, from Nythe, has been going to Area 51 for about two years and thinks it is a great night out for people her age.

"It is amazing," she said. "It is the most fun place in the world.

"I think it works well. People come here because they can when they are under 18."

And in a week when gangs of youths have been fighting in another area of Stratton Danielle said her parents were happy for her to be at the club, despite the recent police raid.

"They like it because it is safe," she said. "They know I am indoors and they know it is a safe environment rather than me being out walking the streets."

Holly Gardiner, 17, of Lower Stratton, comes to the club every week.

"It is ace," she said. "We come down here to check out all the lads. It is fantastic.

"This is a really good idea."

Luke Churcher, 16, of Park North, has also been going to Area 51 for about two years.

"It is good," he said. "They have live bands, good music.

"If we weren't here we would be out on the streets doing God knows what."

His friend Simon Rowley, 16, of Lawn, said the club was one of the only things for young people to do in Swindon.

"It is a place to go," he said. "It is easy to get bored in Swindon because there is not a lot to do."

And he said the club was tough on making sure under-18s did not get alcohol.

"They do check for ID," he said. "They even took my bottle of water away when I came in."

Licensee Ken Brand says he still has not heard anything from the police since 15 officers raided the club on Thursday, July 28.

They claim they found under-18s had been buying and consuming alcohol on the premises but Mr Brand insists they found nothing and that the club has very strict policies on serving alcohol.

"It is the only place in Stratton that the kids can go," he said. "We don't want to stop doing it."