NEW STREET CRUIZER BUS LAUNCHED

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in partnership with the Kent Youth Service launched the new Street Cruizer youth bus on Friday 25 February 2011 at 1pm.  The launch took place outside the Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, with the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr David Jukes in attendance.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council owns and maintains the new Street Cruizer bus, replacing their old bus, which has now gone into retirement.  The acquisition and refit of the new Street Cruizer bus has been funded through the Kent County Council Youth Capital Fund.  Young people from across the borough submitted a funding application and presented their proposal to a panel of judges.  The grant of £120,000 has provided the young people of Tunbridge Wells with a ‘mobile youth club’ – on board they will find all the latest gadgets and games - laptop computers, LCD TVs, Playstation and Wii consoles and sound systems – it’s got a small kitchen, a health consultation room, a ‘cinema room’ (or “chill out zone”) and even a ‘nail bar’.

The Mayor, Cllr David Jukes, thanked Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, KCC, the Kent Youth Service and South East Coachworks for their involvement in getting the bus ready for action. He went on to say:

“I would like to thank the young people who put in a great effort to secure the funding for the new bus. They have ensured that in the future young people across the Borough will continue to have access to a superb mobile youth facility, equipped to the highest of standards.”

Partner organisations will provide services from the bus – the NHS will provide advice and information on general and sexual health issues – Connexions will provide advice and information on jobs and careers, and Kenward Trust will provide advice and information on issues around drink and drugs.

A timetable of the bus’s locations can be found on the Communities and Health Facebook page