WE are writing in regard to the teenage meeting place at Lacy Street in Stretford.

During the meeting in late 1998 which we requested with Cllr Dave Jarman and members of the planning department, we were assured that the shelter was to be built on "the corner of Edge Lane and Chester Road, thus easily observed from the main road, and well away from the path leading from Lacy Street to Edge Lane. We were also told that it would be well lit, and that the flooring would be wood shavings that could be easily swept and cleared of any refuse on a daily basis.

In reality none of the above (which were meant to reassure the local residents) has in fact materialized. The truth being that the 'shelter' has been placed on the corner of Lacy Street, right on the edge of the corner of the path leading up to Edge Lane, sheltered by an area of trees, making it impossible to see from the main road. There is little or no lighting making it very dangerous for the local youngsters who have been using it as a climbing frame.

The 'vandal proof' shelter has already been daubed in paint and black marker pen, this only two days after it was erected.

The workmen left a number of traffic cones when they had finished, and these have already been used as missiles by local youths.

This is obviously only the start of things as the workmen have barely finished.

As the people who live closest to the 'shelter' and also being convinced that our original concerns were never seriously taken into consideration, we would be interested to know why the original plans were so drastically changed without further consultation.

Mr G Lester, chairman, Butler Court Residents Assocation.

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