The 2006 Telford & Wrekin question time, chaired by BBC Radio Shropshire's Eric Smith, brought together schools from across the borough to discuss issues important to local young people. Among the topics most hotly debated were health, sex education, leisure facilities, anti-social behaviour, transport, school meals and recycling. Click on the links below to listen to each of the issues debated, based on questions posed by the audience and chaired by Eric Smith. Health First on the agenda was school meals and the current campaign to promote healthy eating. Young people's concerns about local health also involved changes to services at the Princess Royal hospital. Sex education, preganacy rates among teens in Telford and the distribution of contraceptives were probably the most contentious issues of the event, with members of the audience expressing a wide range of views. However, many agreed that sex education should be led by nurses, not teachers. Anti-social behaviour A member of Adams Grammar asked whether the current system was tough enough on 'social delinquents' and on anti-social behaviour. Some among the audience agreed, questioning what was being done to take knives off Telford's streets and put more police on the beat. There were also members of the audience who believed that some Community Support Officers (CSOs) weren't differentiating between 'yobs' and groups of young people just talking together in public places. Leisure facilities Provision of leisure facilities, including disabled access, was debated, before moving on to the issue of general activities for young people. While many believed that there weren't enough youth clubs in the area, very few of the audience confirmed that they would use them if they were available. Charlotte Baker suggested that youth clubs throughout the borough needed more publicity. Transport and travel Telford's bus service was also put under the microscope with students in rural areas feeling the most discriminated against. Keith Austin regretted that the local bus network wasn't under council control. Pupils at Newport and the Lord Silkin School believed that there should be more services to Telford town centre, particularly at weekends. Bus passes were also a popular issue. Recycling While the overwhelming majority of pupils felt that recycling was important, there seemed to be a big difference between systems at different schools. While the Lord Silkin School seemed particularly strong in this area, some other schools had practically no provision for recycling. Sixth formers at Newport Girls High School claimed that they had to arrange their own recycling, including driving waste to centres. Adams Grammar pupils also asked if funding should be available to implement recycling schemes in local schools. Local democracy One of the final questions of the afternoon asked who the Labour-led council served first - the whole borough, or the wards with a strong Labour base. Keith Austin responded stating: "I'm elected to deliver the best value for the whole borough... for the best value." More about the panel Councillor John Dixon has been on Telford & Wrekin Borough Council for three years, representing the Horshay and Lightmoor ward. He is now the leader of the Conservative group. John Gilbert is the head of School and Community Services for Telford & Wrekin Borough Council. Keith Austin is the leader of the Labour-led Telford & Wrekin Borough Council, representing the Hadley and Leegomery ward. He's been a councillor for 24 years and is also a local magistrate. Charlotte Baker is the council's Children and Young People's Voice and Influence Worker. Phoebe Lill is 13 and goes to Madeley Court Sports College. She's part of Telford & Wrekin's Young People's Forum. | 
