A YOUTH shelter which attracts anti-social behaviour could be bulldozed by a borough council.

Ribble Valley councillors will meet tomorrow to discuss an ongoing issue regarding anti-social behaviour at the Clitheroe youth shelter, on Henthorn Road.

The youth shelter, which was installed some years ago as part of Lancashire County Council’s youth work programme, is not popular with residents who have raised numerous concerns about the behaviour of users of the shelter, both during the day and in the evenings, together with the mess which is left each day in and around the shelter.

The council currently visits the shelter area three times a week to help ensure the Henthorn Road area is kept as clean and tidy as possible, removing litter, bottles, cans and drug related paraphernalia.

Council chiefs are now asking elected members whether the shelter should be removed.

Kathy Hudson, 60, who has lived opposite the shelter for six years, said: “I think they should get rid of it because I see no purpose to it.

“A lot of young people just hang around there after school and on weekends and create a right mess.

“I don’t see what the benefit of it is and I think that’s a view shared by a lot of residents around here.”

Mark Beveridge, head of cultural and leisure services at the borough council, in a report to the community services committee, said: “Currently there are no resources to provide the type of youth work needed to address the behaviour which the shelter attract.

“The parents of the young people, who are causing the issues, appear to be unaware of their behaviour or are uninterested.

“The police have sought to intervene, though with limited success.

“Removal of the shelter will be very popular with many residents, though unlikely to be received well by the people who use it.

“The removal of the youth shelter is an option though it does run the risk of simply moving to another part of the area or further afield out of town.

“It is highly unlikely that the people causing the problems will simply disappear if the youth shelter is removed.”

The issue will be discussed at Ribble Valley Council’s community services committee meeting on Tuesday at the council offices.