Lancashire | Archive | 2002 | August | 7
From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Wednesday 7th Aug 2002.
A BAN on 18th birthday parties at council venues could be about to be lifted.
But any reprieve for teenagers wanting to celebrating their coming-of-age will come with a stark warning from council bosses: "abuse it and lose it."
Council chiefs say they barred 18th birthday parties from venues operated by Blackburn with Darwen Council several years ago.
This was because several parties had resulted in damage to the venues, such as the Tower Room at Darwen Leisure Centre.
Parties for people celebrating their 21st birthday have continued to be allowed by the council, because there had been no trouble with those events.
But now, Coun Kate Hollern, in charge of leisure and culture at the council, instigated a review of the no-18th parties after receiving requests for parties to be held at council venues.
The executive member said: "Bookings have not been taken for 18th birthday parties for a number of years. We understand this decision was reached due to problems that arose during this type of celebration.
"Since this was decided several years ago the council is prepared to review the situation." We welcome all other celebrations, including 21st parties, at most of the council's venues, including the Tower Room, which was re-decorated two years ago.
But she warned: "We want to ensure all council venues remain an attractive option for the greater number of people wishing to use them."
Other possible venues for 18th birthday parties run by the council could be community centres and King George's Hall.
Coun Paul Browne, leader of the Lib Dems on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I always thought they never should have put the ban in place. However, if they are going to lift the ban, then they need to make sure people behave themselves.
"I think the best way to do it is make people hand over a bond as well as the fee for hiring the room. If people had to give, say £100, I think they would make sure whoever was invited to the party behaved themselves.
"At the end, of 18th birthday parties can be real money spinners for the council."
Gemma Coates, 19, of Fielding Crescent, Blackburn toured the town's pub with her friends to celebrate her 18th birthday. She said: "The parties should be allowed. It would save a lot of them from being on the streets.
"You can't let a few bad people spoil it for everybody else."
Gemma's mother Daphne, 45, also of Fielding Crescent, has a son coming up to his 18th birthday. She said: "Of course they should be allowed to have parties there."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008