YOUTHS plaguing a swimming pool car park are forcing the council to fork out thousands of pounds in security measures.

Residents have complained of disturbances by teenagers at the rear of Brinscall Baths during evenings and weekends.

Councillors were due to decide how to tackle the problem at a meeting today (Thursday).

The borough's community services committee was told that steel security railings and a car park barrier would be needed.

It is claimed the youths are:

Spraying graffiti on outside walls.

Leaving broken bottles and other rubbish.

Vandalising external lights and doors.

Parking without consent and creating a nuisance.

A total of £2,300 currently available in the 1996-97 budget, planned for securing the area next to the rear doors, would rise to £5,850 should the full scheme go ahead.

If the work is phased in two parts - one of the two options being considered - there would be an additional cost of about £450 because intermediate fencing would be needed.

However, due to a lack of cash - the committee is already £73,500 overspent - there are no guarantees that the council could carry out all the work anyway.

Withnell ward councillor Kerry Jones said: "It has been going on for a long, long time. I think it has got worse over the last year.

"There are quite a few elderly people who live in terraced houses there. It effects everybody, but particularly elderly people feel threatened."

She added: "The work has got to be done, there's no doubt about it. Maybe the solution is to do the first bit as soon as possible, it might be enough, rather than lose the whole lot."

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