YOUNG people in Chippen-ham are being asked to say what type of activities they would like in their area.

The Local Youth Network (LYN) has sent out hundreds of questionnaires to analyse the needs of young people in the town after youth development centre the Bridge Centre closed last September.

The questionnaire is aimed at people aged nine to 25 and asks them to choose from a list of activities they would use, or to make suggestions of their own.

Some options in the list are already available – for example, there is band rehearsal and recording equipment at Riverbank Studio in the Olympiad and sports clubs such as canoeing and sailing.

There is also a youth group run by the Rise Trust charity at St Paul’s Church Hall, on Wednesday evenings for 11-13 year-olds and Friday evenings for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Other options, such as a skate park, have long been called for. Youth officer Richard Williams would not comment on how realistic he considered the chances of Chippenham getting a skate park in the next five years.

Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Young people always have fresh ideas and their enthusiasm and energy can help make things happen. I believe taking this questionnaire to the schools will ensure a wide range of young people have their say.”

The LYN has given out 1,550 questionnaires to Hardenhuish School and 200 to Wiltshire College Chippenham Campus. It is also at http://tinyurl.com/jvul3dh It must be submitted by the end of this month and findings will go to Chippenham Area Board on March 2.