'Liquid headache' victory for teenagers
HUNDREDS of teenagers and tots will be breathing a sigh of relief after a high-pitched device aimed at dispersing groups of young people gathering at Teignmouth railway station has been switched off.
The device, known as a mosquito, emits very high frequencies which normally only people under the age of 20 can hear.
The aim is to disperse groups of troublesome teenagers from areas known to suffer from anti-social behaviour.
But the machine has been emitting the buzzing noise about every 20 minutes for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, causing travellers and babies discomfort.
Schoolchildren from South Devon Liberal Youth, councillors and MPs have all written to station owners First Great Western, which has agreed to put the device on a timer to come on only when the station is unmanned.
Richard Younger Ross, Lib Dem MP for Teignbridge, said: "I am delighted First Great Western have listened to the complaint from South Devon Liberal Youth. However, what we need are assurances that the devices should not be used anywhere where young people are legitimately using services."
Teignmouth town Cllr David Cox also said he was pleased an agreement had finally been reached.
He said: "It's been zapping children who are waiting for trains. One of the children described it as a liquid headache.
"If it was something which caused discomfort to elderly people there would be a public outcry, but teenagers are demonised and seen to be the source of all crime, which is clearly not the case."
Cllr Cox said there had been problems with groups of young people 'hanging about' at the station but that it was inappropriate for the device to be turned on all the time.
A First Great Western spokesman said: "Following a meeting between our managing director, Mark Hopwood, and local MP Richard Younger-Ross, the decision was made to only turn on the mosquito device at Teignmouth when the station is unmanned, so as not to target youngsters who aren't involved in anti-social behaviour."
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by mr banks, paignton
Friday, January 01 2010, 11:39AM
“Agent......... this machine is made to only affect babys kids and very young children up to say 18 the younger the child the more it hurts there ears and blasts them!!! older people as they get older can not hear the sound blasted off this machine, which is why i got to ask how the hell can the goverment allow babys in the prams and young children who have done nothing wrong to anyone be put in pain with this thing........... southwest trains first of what ever it is should be ashamed as well as this newspaper for not saying to all you guys how bad this machine is!! its evil and me i am 37 and a dad just think of all the other parents sat waiting for a train with there kids who when this thing goes off could be startled and fall in front of a train where is health and safety when there needed????”
by agent, torbay
Friday, January 01 2010, 9:30AM
“Another wild story in the media. Why would age have anything to with who it would effect? If anything younger people have better hearing. Its senseless. The person who created this garbage obviously wasn't very intelligent. It goes to show the media is a deception tool and doesn't even represent full facts. I question the point in even reading the news as its allways the same only the names change. You have nothing to gain by knowing what is happening in the world as most of it is of little relevence. We are still a primitive species but some people like to think technology makes us superior. As a human race we still haven't actually achieved anything from the use of technology. We would get more done without relying on technology. Everything that comes from technology is a gimmick. Many people still haven't begun to understand that life itself has little value or significance. Existing itself is suffering for human beings due to the fact you question why the hell are we even here. What is the purphouse of all this garbage”
by mr banks, paignton
Thursday, December 31 2009, 4:08PM
“This thing is a breach of childrens rights and the goverment needs to ban these sound things, most crime is dont by 18 to 40 yearolds not kids ........... about time the police did there jobs proper and didnt go against the kids in our world as its wrong.......... I will never buy a ticket on one of these trains again.”
by Tony, Torquay
Thursday, December 31 2009, 11:39AM
“meant to say "no danger", pity there isn't an edit/delete function, lol”
by Tony, Torquay
Thursday, December 31 2009, 11:37AM
“I suppose there's now danger of the Police driving by every now and then, instead of having sci-fi nonsense like this?”