KING Street residents in Westhoughton can celebrate a victory . . . in silence.

Neighbours were featured in Down Your Way campaigning for a barrier to be put up at the entrance to the Central Park car park leading off their road.

Complaints surrounded the level of noise coming from the park at nights.

Gangs of youths have been using the car park as a meeting place, leaving car stereos loudly playing, revving engines noisily, drinking and shouting abuse.

In addition, cars have been speeding up and down King Street to and from the car park, causing a danger to the safety of residents.

Their was a quick response from the council who promised to act.

But residents' joy was shortlived when council officers reneged on their promise.

Now, there has been another change of heart and residents have been told a barrier will be installed.

The campaign for the barrier has united Liberal Democrat's Cllr David Wilkinson with Labour's Cllr David Chadwick, and MP Ruth Kelly.

All welcomed the news that the barrier would be going up. Ruth Kelly said: "This is excellent news. I was very concerned to hear the problems which included noise from youths who were driving their cars into the park at night.

"It is a shame that restrictions have to be placed on when people can enter the park, but if people are abusing that freedom and making other peoples' lives hell then it has to be done."