Residents in the dark over teenage shelter

6:09pm Wednesday 11th July 2001

CONCERNED residents say they had no idea a teenage shelter had been approved near their homes.

Work on the project is scheduled to start in a few weeks. But residents say the Recreation Ground in Blind Lane, Bourne End, is already abused by older teenagers through out the night with vandalism, litter, and bad language a constant problem.

Residents' spokesman Jim Jackson said the last they had heard from Wycombe District Council, which approved the plans in November, was that the shelter in Bourne End was unlikely to proceed.

Residents had carried out their own survey and found that more than 60 people knew nothing about the proposal.

Most were strongly against it. Use of the shelter after dark was a major concern with suggestions that it will attract older teenagers with cars.

Chairman of Wooburn Parish Council, Julia Langley, said she appreciated their concern but said the aim was to provide something for the youth who felt that they were alienated from the community.

Cllr Langley said: "There was no secrecy about it. It has been well publicised in the local press and through a consultation carried out by Wycombe District Council.

"People were consulted over a year ago and that may have led to people forgetting about the scheme.

"That is our fault and perhaps we could have done that better."

Sue Pycroft's Column