TEENAGE focus groups have been helping to shape a plan for the future of Northwich.

Students from Sir John Deane's College (SJD) and Mid Cheshire College shared their thoughts on the town during two sessions with members of the Northwich Neighbourhood Plan team.

They considered a number of questions about different aspects of the town, including the centre itself, transport, leisure and housing.

Cllr Andrew Cooper, from the neighbourhood plan group and Northwich Town Council, said: "It was really interesting to get the feedback from young people – it's often difficult to to get the views of young people because they don't necessarily fill in surveys.

"Events like this give you the opportunity to talk to them directly and hear what their views are – after all, anything we do is going to affect them the most because they're the people that are going to have to live with it the longest."

Students across both colleges agreed something should be done with Weaver Square Shopping Centre.

Some suggested demolishing it and starting again, others would like to see a fully covered shopping mall while others suggested offices so workers could shop in the town centre.

They also agreed that the police station and former council offices in Chesterway were ugly and argued that their appearance was more important than their use because of their location on the main road through the town.

Both groups discussed the character of Northwich and said they were proud of the black and white timber framed buildings in Witton Street but that there was a place for modern buildings too.

One SJD student said the college was a good example of how to combine historic and modern buildings.

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Mid Cheshire College students said it was important to maintain the heritage in the town centre but less so on the outskirts.

Both groups were also vocal about Northwich's markets, with some students arguing that novelty and uniqueness would be a better way forward in a world were people are used to the convenience of supermarkets while others said the market should remain as it is, just refurbished.

The groups discussed access to and around town and praised the cycle paths through Kingsmead, although said better bus services were vital.

Students said the rivers were beautiful, with some going out of their way to walk there, but that town did not look at its best from the water, and this needed addressing to boost tourism.

On the theme of housing students agreed that it was better to make use of derelict sites and that style should vary.

Cllr Cooper said: "The feedback we got was extremely valuable with some things we hadn't thought of and other things reinforcing ideas we've been given, which goes to show how invaluable it is to engage with people in that way."

For more information about the neighbourhood plan visit northwichplan.org.uk