Residents point out rowdy youths

5:28pm Monday 23rd July 2001

CHANGES are to be made to a scheme for young people to appease furious Sundridge residents.

Charles Darwin House in Garden Road is a hostel for youths aged 16 to 23 struggling to find employment and housing.

Residents in neighbouring blocks complained of noise and threatening behaviour by the inhabitants and their friends at a meeting with council officials and scheme managers.

Now the vetting procedures for young people entering the scheme are to be tightened and other agencies are working to identify and deal with offenders.

Key workers, with the help of residents, have already successfully evicted youths who were identified as troublemakers.

Environmental health services will keep a log of complaints and are prepared to serve notices for noise pollution.

Anyone who receives two notices could have stereo equipment impounded.

Bromley Council adolescent services manager Nedine Watson said: “We will be introducing more robust interviewing procedures. We want to create a more mature mix of people who are interested in employment, education and training.”

A residents' spokesman, who would not be named for fear of reprisals, said: “Some of the older people feel really intimidated. This has been going on for far too long and it's terrible residents have had to push so hard to get anything done.”