STANWELL School pupils were the first to vote on Penarth’s Town Plan at an exhibition at Penarth Library on Monday this week.

The youngsters, from the school’s Student Council, were given their chance to give their views on the Town Plan ahead of the general public.

Penarth residents will be able to vote on the Town Plan, making recommendations about how they think the likes of transport could be improved in the area, over the next four weeks until January 12.

The display, which was officially opened by the Penarth Town Mayor Cllr Neil Thomas, invites residents to vote on ideas for improving the town suggested by members of the public at a workshop held in November. The most popular ideas will be the basis for the Plan, which the Town Council hopes will attract popular support and funding.

Students were asked to vote on issues such as which public areas should be redesigned and how to stop congestion. These were among the most raised issues at the workshop on the Plan at the Paget Rooms attended by over 70 people last month.

Lauren Beesley, head girl of Stanwell School, said that it was important that young people were given the opportunity to voice their opinions on local issues.

Lauren, who has applied to study Politics at five Universities in America, added that public transport was one of the main concerns for young people who were “on the edge of independence”.

“It would be good to have buses and trains linked together like in London where they have the Oyster Card,” she said.

Leader of Penarth Town Council, Cllr Michael Cuddy, said: “I thought it was really important that we hear the views of young people. When the residents and the Council are putting together the Town Plan, we’re really asking – what should the town be like when we pass it on to that generation?”

He added: “It’s important to get the views of youngsters as they will be living here for the next 50 to 60 years.

“It’s the town that we want to live in that we need to think about. What facilities do we not have that we need?”

Matt Harrison, from the Town Council’s facilitators White Design, said: “What we’re really hoping is that as well as getting the views of this age-group, they can encourage their parents to respond to what people have said so far, either here at the exhibition or at the Town Plan website where they can also see the boards.”

Smaller boards, to give a taster to those unable to get to the library, are going up at Penarth Leisure Centre, Foxy’s Deli, The Paget Rooms, The Kymin and the Pop-up Craft Shop on Glebe St. All the boards are available to view at the town plan website: www.penarth.white-design.com