A GROUP of teenagers have apologised for causing anti-social behaviour in Westham and are striving for change in their neighbourhood.

Two weeks ago Dorset Police issued a Section 30 dispersal order on areas in Westham to tackle anti-social behaviour, violence and vandalism from gangs of rowdy teenagers.

Now a group of teenagers have decided to change things in Westham and are appealing for a youth club to get teenagers and children off the streets at night.

One teenager Suky Hall, 15, said: “I was shocked to see the paper and see how upset some of the local residents were.

“Obviously there were loads of things going on but we just want to say sorry for anything we have done that has got out of hand and upset people.

“Some of us just didn’t realise that standing together in big groups was bothering people.”

Another teenager Luke Dennis, 18, said that he believes people wrongly think that all the teenagers in Westham are ‘yobs and thugs’ and feels like they have been singled out.

He said: “We want to say sorry to all the residents of Westham.

“We were all made out to be bad people that will beat up anyone that walked past our group but we are not like that.

“I can see how intimidating it must be if there is a group of 30 to 40 teenagers stood together but really we have nowhere else to go.

“But we are not all the same and if there was something for us to do we wouldn’t be out on the streets.

“We have now been banned from all the play areas and places we used to hang out and there is nowhere to go at the weekends and evenings.”

Luke said the youngsters are willing to fundraise or work in order to pay for a youth club and already have 34 signatures on a petition for a club.

He added: “We are not going around causing trouble – please, we just want help to get a youth club.

“We are willing to give up our time to do fun runs, car washing or gardening – anything to raise enough money to rent somewhere and have a youth club.”

Westham beat manager PC Adam Hegenbarth supports the group’s idea, if they are willing to work and respect the club.

He said: “Since the Section 30 was imposed the number of calls we’ve had about anti-social behaviour has dramatically dropped.

“I applaud the efforts of this group and it is good to see people in Westham looking forward.”

Westham West councillor Jean Woodward also backed the idea of a youth club and said she would like to see provision made in Weymouth’s new community fire station on the site of the former Westhaven School.

“I see the frustration with youngsters in Westham because there isn’t any youth club,” she said. “I would fully support any move to try and fund a new club there.”

When the new fire station is completed in 2011 there will be a room available for the Westham Strategic Group – specifically for community groups – which could include youth sessions but not as a permanent base.