Fury over plan to demolish pavilion to sort out anti-social behaviour

A council has sparked anger with their plan to sort out anti-social behaviour – by demolishing a picturesque pavilion which was a preferred haunt spot for teenagers. 

The native authority in Lyme Regis, Dorset, has taken the extraordinary choice to bulldoze the beloved coastal landmark.

The scenic pavilion was in-built 2005 as a spot for townspeople and vacationers alike to sit down and take within the views of the well-known Cobb harbour and the Jurassic Coast.

But in recent times it has attracted homeless individuals looking for shelter in addition to bored youngsters with nowhere else to go.

This has led to complaints of anti-social behaviour, together with consuming and drug taking.

A council has sparked anger with their plan to sort out anti-social behaviour – by demolishing a picturesque pavilion the place youngsters hang around

The native authority in Lyme Regis, Dorset, has taken the extraordinary choice to bulldoze the beloved coastal landmark

The city council subsequently eliminated the home windows of the constructing within the hope of creating it inhospitable for them. 

When that did not work they voted by the movement to do away with the pavilion solely. 

Furious locals say it is going to solely transfer the youngsters on to someplace else and concern the council will find yourself taking part in ‘whac-a-mole’ with different public buildings.

One native resident mentioned: ‘Let’s hope they do not find yourself hanging outdoors the city corridor in any other case they should demolish that by their logic.

‘Destroying public buildings which can be effectively liked and effectively used just because they entice the fallacious type of individuals just isn’t the reply. It is tantamount to vandalism.

‘The council ought to give attention to placing time and sources into fixing the reason for anti-social conduct.’

A petition has been launched in a last-ditch bid to cease the demolition which is predicted to occur over the following few weeks.

Members of the neighborhood have additionally provided to color and restore the pavilion freed from cost to attempt to persuade Lyme Regis Town Council that it’s price protecting.

Janette Edmonds, who has organised the net petition, mentioned: ‘This choice has left our neighborhood devastated. 

‘Not solely does it rob us of a treasured piece of our city’s character, but it surely additionally threatens tourism – a vital part of our native economic system.

‘The council thinks that whether it is not there the anti-social conduct will cease however taking part in whac-a-mole with native landmarks like this isn’t the reply. 

‘Removing the pavilion will simply transfer the issue elsewhere.

‘This is a stunning constructing and the outcry from individuals within the city is large.’

Local resident Kate Burgess mentioned: ‘How does destroying the situation assist? If the issue relocates to the opposite shelters, are they going to take away these too?’

Mark Turner added: ‘If bored youngsters are hanging out within the pavilion and it’s as a result of they’ve nowhere to go like a youth membership.

The scenic pavilion was in-built 2005 as a spot for townspeople and vacationers alike to sit down and take within the magnificent views of the well-known Cobb harbour and the Jurassic Coast

‘The council ought to give attention to giving the youngsters someplace to go relatively than destroy a public constructing. Knocking it down just isn’t the reply.’

But Brian Larcombe, chairman of the city council’s city administration committee, mentioned they did not have the sources to sort out homelessness or anti-social behaviour and the pavilion was not vital sufficient to maintain.

He mentioned: ‘The gazebo was constructed in the course of the mid-2000s and isn’t a heritage asset.

‘Lyme Regis Town Council, like different small cities of parish standing, do not have the means or obligatory expertise to resolve homelessness.

‘The gazebo just isn’t a short lived or everlasting answer to any homelessness case.

‘The council is conscious of the disgusting state the gazebo suffers with drunkenness and indicators of drug taking, and the urinating and defecation in public, at occasions in the course of the day, when our public bathrooms are open. It is totally unacceptable and inexcusable.

‘The police have been unable to cope with this over the previous couple of years.

‘We are subsequently merely eradicating the construction however leaving the benches it comprises in place, so the seating stays.’

Since the backlash the council has agreed to debate the problem once more and a council assembly on the finish of the month.