Plans to build park youth shelter are turned down

HUNDREDS of people who petitioned against plans to build youth shelter in a park because of fears anti-social behaviour would increase are celebrating some good news.

Ruislip High School, in Sidmouth Drive, Ruislip Gardens, had plans to build and fund a shelter in Shenley Park, Shenley Avenue, Ruislip Manor, to give somewhere for youths to go.

However, there was very little consultation with residents and when they heard about the plans they gathered 266 signatures on a petition to oppose it.

A meeting was held with Hillingdon Council's cabinet member for environment, Sandra Jenkins, on Tuesday (22) and she decided to oppose the plans.

Peter O'Brien, 59, one of the petition organisers and a resident of Shenley Avenue, said: "They agreed to forget all about building this shelter and instead start a 'Friends of Shenley Park' group.

"If we had already had this group this sort of thing would have got ironed out without all the fuss.

"The teachers and parents at the school were probably for the shelter but the school is quite far away, and they're not necessarily local residents.

"We already get a lot of anti-social behaviour in the park anyway so a shelter that is lit up at night would just make it worse. It's just around the corner from three pubs and a few off licenses as well.

"The park isn't always locked up either so we get people in there at all hours of the night yelling their heads off.

"There was a shelter there before but the council knocked down it about 20 years ago following a request from the police because they kept finding drug paraphernalia in there."

However, a new outdoor gym, which has been funded by the school, has been up and running in the park for about three weeks now and is a hit with the residents.

Mr O'Brien said: "I believe it's the only one in the borough and it seems popular. I have used it.

"The school have got part of their project. It's not like we opposed everything."