PLANS to build a youth shelter in the grounds of a trouble-hit community centre have been shelved after sparking fury among residents.
Police and council officers hoped the shelter - similar to a band stand - would help cut the 600 per cent rise in juvenile nuisance in Oswaldtwistle's West End.
But they were forced to accept local opinion that the shelter, in the grounds of West End Community Centre, would attract loitering teenagers from other areas of Hyndburn.
This week more than 100 angry residents packed the community hall in a bid to stop the shelter being built.
One resident, who does not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "We're overjoyed that the shelter won't be built here - it would only attract more troublemakers. But we still have the same problem to solve.
"Teenagers are coming to the community centre to drink alcohol and cause chaos. At the weekends there are so many police vehicles hurtling around after them that it's like downtown in a city.
"And the day after they've been hanging around we find empty beer cans and bottles and used condoms.
"These gangs of youths are frightening the local children who are supposed to be playing on the recreation area."
Inspector Bob Ford and Sergeant Graham Eccles - who helped design the shelter - also attended the meeting and revealed that the number of times they had been called out to the Blackburn Road centre had soared from 17 in 1994 to 127 in 1996.
Sgt Eccles had received an offer of materials to build the shelter - and Accrington and Rossendale College apprentices had volunteered their time and labour.
He said: "Unfortunately local people feel very strongly that the shelter should be built elsewhere and so we have had to put the plans on hold.
"White Ash and Harvey Street were mentioned as alternative sites but I think there will have to be a great deal of discussion before it could go ahead."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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