PLANS to open a youth shelter have outraged residents who fear it will increase antisocial behaviour in the area. The police have put in planning applications to build a shelter for youngsters in Jubilee Park off Colombo Crescent on the Coronation estate

PLANS to open a youth shelter have outraged residents who fear it will increase antisocial behaviour in the area.The police have put in planning applications to build a shelter for youngsters in Jubilee Park off Colombo Crescent on the Coronation estate in Weston. They also want one in the Oldmixon play area off Monkton Avenue.But residents living near Jubilee Park, who say they are already kept up at night with noise caused by rowdy youngsters, fear the situation will get even worse if a shelter is put up.Samantha Thomas, aged 40, of Colombo Crescent, said: "I live right opposite the park and it's bad enough at night now with the children over there. It gets really loud so we can't sleep at night."If they put up a youth shelter the youngsters are going to come from everywhere and drink and the noise is going to be terrible. They'll be able to stay all through the night."We can't take our children over to the park now because it's in such a disgusting state. There are empty bottles everywhere. With a shelter it will be even worse."But police officers on the south ward beat team feel it will help to reduce antisocial behaviour by giving the youngsters a place of their own in which to meet.Sergeant Gareth Starr said: "The site is well away from the houses and will give the youths somewhere to gather other than around the shops where we do receive calls in relation to antisocial behaviour."More than 50 residents have signed a petition to stop the shelter from being built. North Somerset councillor Ian Parker, who represents Weston's south ward, said: "The shelter in Jubilee Park has been met with quite a lot of resistance from residents. They are worried it will attract youths engaging in drinking, drugs and sex."I've done some research on shelters up and down the country and they have mixed success. Some have helped reduce antisocial behaviour and some have increased it."Cllr Parker has asked for the matter to be discussed at a west area committee meeting on December 14.* Pictured above right: Cllr Ian Parker (far left) with Coronation estate residents fighting against plans for a youth shelter.