INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out to provide a graffiti wall in Royston. The move comes after the question was raised at a recent meeting of Royston Town Council. Then Cllr Lindsay Davidson, who is a member of the Royston youth network group, said the

INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out to provide a graffiti wall in Royston.

The move comes after the question was raised at a recent meeting of Royston Town Council.

Then Cllr Lindsay Davidson, who is a member of the Royston youth network group, said the provision of a graffiti wall was one of several suggestions from youngsters which were "going around".

The idea has led to a report from community development officer Alan Fleck to members of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee which will be discussed on Wednesday.

In the report he said that he had gathered comments from other local authorities.

One said "anecdotal evidence strongly suggests" that graffiti had been reduced in an area where a wall had been installed.

Another local authority reported that a graffiti wall had been such a success that it was looking to install a futher one.

It said the choice of location was "crucial to success".

But another council reported that when a wall was installed there was "great enthusiasm" but this had declined over the past two years.

Mr Fleck said in his report that the installation of a wall should not be seen as a "fit and forget" item.

"The authorities who installed a wall and supported it with events and some kind of training and have actively managed the wall have had more success," he said.

The cost of providing a wall is still to be worked out, but, said the report, it has to be set against money spent on removing graffiti.

Meanwhile, the setting up of a Royston Youth Council has led to several meetings to discuss its role in the community.

Cllr Davidson said she was "impressed" by one of the meetings she had attended.

"It's important the town council gives the youngsters support and encouragement," she said.

"We are a partner with the youth council and we want to be an enthusatic partner," she said.

The youth council is currently looking at an idea to install a youth shelter in the Priory Memorial Gardens.

A questionnaire is being circulated to young people to get a "representative proposal".

Mr Fleck said: "This may delay the installation, but should assist in the provision of a shelter that is owned by and therefore used by young people.