BLACKPOOL MP Gordon Marsden has pledged to monitor a care home for disruptive youths after it won approval in the face of massive opposition from residents.

Mr Marsden took up the cudgels after residents drew up an 850-name petition and 200 letters of objection to the Northern Care Group's plan for a home for up to six 11-16 year-old boys with discipline problems in St Annes Road. South Shore.

Blackpool Council gave it the go-ahead, but cut its planning permission to two years so that any problems can be dealt with early in deference to residents' crime and nuisance fears.

Said Mr Marsden: "I'm disappointed the council have not felt able to respond to the concerns of the residents, but I do think the minimum period of two years should give them some reassurance. I will monitor very carefully the nature of the establishment and the nature of the people who are placed there."

He has also written to Trade Secretary Stephen Byers about the background of the Northern Care Group.

The company stated it would take only boys who did not pose a risk to the public and they would be supervised 24 hours a day.

Council leader Ivan Taylor said: "I think a two-year limit is the right course of action in the light of the concern in the neighbourhood.

"It's a facility that is needed. There is secure accommodation for those who are a security risk, but at the moment we don't have any for those that are not.

"They have to be sent away from their family which is pretty poor, so this will fill a gap.

"The whole issue is based on assurances, as far as they can be given, that the children will not pose any threat to the public. If that turns out to be incorrect it will be an important factor when the licence and planning permission come up for renewal."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.