Young people from Peasedown St John received a special treat last week by spending an afternoon in Pizza Hut followed by a visit to meet the Chairman of B&NES and the Mayor of Bath.

Last Friday, ten members of the village’s Youth Community Council were given the opportunity to find out more about local democracy and how it affects their every day lives.

Pizza and Politics was organised by local Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib Dem, Peasedown) to coinside with Youth Work Week, which is a national initiative to promote the voice and influence of young people. He said:

“It is so important that young people feel that their opinion counts and what they think it just as important as what anyone else thinks. So many teenagers often tell me how they don’t understand how the Council works and that the whole political system is so confusing.

I decided therefore to give local young people the chance to visit the Guildhall, the place where decision making happens in B&NES. This is where issues such as schools, the youth service, the condition of roads, public transport are debated – all of these shaping the lives and experiences of those who live in our area.”

Young people were given a brief tour of the building by Chairman Cllr David Bellotti, including the Council Chamber, and then received a brief summary of the 778 year history of the Mayoralty of Bath by Cllr Tim Ball.

The day also included a tour of the Roman Baths and a visit to Parade Gardens.