COMMUNITY leaders are rallying hundreds of residents living on a Worle housing estate to 'stand as one' against yob youths. Mead Vale Local Action Team (LAT) members say apathy among residents is their biggest barrier to getting problems solved. LAT chair

COMMUNITY leaders are rallying hundreds of residents living on a Worle housing estate to 'stand as one' against yob youths.Mead Vale Local Action Team (LAT) members say apathy among residents is their biggest barrier to getting problems solved.LAT chairman Brian Cartwright said: "Not all youths cause trouble, but we have a mindless group of about 40-plus young people aged in their early to late teens who are known to cause most of the antisocial behaviour through drink. They think they have the right to do as they wish, when, where and to who they like. The apathy we face is less to do with the police or councils and more to do with the residents themselves. "It is easy to leave everything to someone else to do but lone voices do not get heard. They are drowned out by others who shout louder. "The possible threat of intimidation is often given as the reason for doing nothing. But it is very difficult to intimidate a community of over 300 people. It is only by coming together as a community that we will be less of a target for the antisocial element of our society."Weston's prospective MP, Councillor Mike Bell, is campaigning for urgent action to tackle antisocial behaviour in the area after spending a weekend talking to residents.He said: "The overwhelming message from residents was clear. Over many months antisocial behaviour has made people's lives a misery."The Mead Vale shopping precinct in particular has become a popular haunt for yobs and residents and business people are rightly sick and tired of the vandalism, noise, disturbance and fear that these hooligans have been causing. I am determined the police, council and residents can work together to stamp out this problem."Cllr Bell has contacted the authorities, including the police and North Somerset Council, calling for extra police patrols during the evenings and at weekends, urgent improvements to young people's facilities and to consider installing CCTV cameras connected to the Town Hall monitoring system.To support the local action team call the co-ordinator, Alison Tull, on 01934 638157.