CONTROVERSIAL plans for a home for disruptive children in South Shore have been put on hold after massive public protest.

Blackpool regeneration and development committee on Monday (April 12) decided to seek more information and draw up proper planning guidelines specifically for such care homes for young tearaways - probably the first council in the country to do so. Residents had collected an 850-name petition and sent 15 letters of objection, fearing an upsurge in crime, noise and nuisance with Northern Care Group's scheme to convert a detached house in St Annes Road to a residential home for six 11-16 year-olds beyond parental control.

Ward councillor Craig Matthews, who had urged the postponement, said: "Naturally residents do have very genuine concerns, but this will give them more information and understanding about these kind of care homes so that they can put up relevant arguments."

At present, care homes of all kinds - whether for children, the elderly or disabled - are all classed as the same for planning purposes. But the new guidelines should enable planners to raise issues specific to disruptive children.

Committee chairman George Bancroft said they were seeking more information on what control and sanctions social services would have over the home, whether they could close it down if there was trouble, whether it would take youngsters from outside Blackpool, how long was the average stay, whether the applicants were competent and what effect the neighbours could expect.

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