Largs Community Council have backed calls from local residents to demolish the public toilet building and shelter at Douglas Park after continuing vandalism, noise and litter.
A petition was handed in by residents at last Thursday’s community council meeting.
The petition stated: “The building was obviously provided for the comfort and convenience of the public. However, it has instead been adopted as a meeting place for young people who unfortunately tend to indulge in anti-social behaviour.
“This often consists of loud disturbance - youths shouting, girls screaming, and loud music. Vandalism is ongoing and there have been instances of deliberate fire-raising. The fire service had to attend recently to extinguish a blaze that had spread from a litter bin into the shelter roof timbers, which were seriously damaged.”
Residents described the noise levels as ‘intolerable’, and reported that the site was regularly littered with wine bottles, beer and cider cans, caffeine-based energy drinks and broken glass.”
The petition also stated: “The problems seem to have been escalating recently and local residents now have reasonable cause for concern about the potential spread of fire to their properties via the adjacent trees.”
Community councillor Jim Perman questioned whether the building could be removed on the basis that there was an anti-social behaviour problem, and stated that it would need to be proved that it was in a dangerous state.
Community councillor Andy Adair stated: “It’s a no brainer to knock down the building.”
Independent councillor Ian Murdoch ‘reluctantly agreed’ that the shelter would have to go, but voiced concerns it would just move the problem on elsewhere.
Cllr Tom Marshall said the anti-social behaviour caused ‘immense disturbance’, adding: “This problem has existed for many years and has badly affected local residents. It needed some action so I have arranged that the council to remove the shelter. The licensing board and the police must take greater efforts to control the sale of liquor to those under the age of 18 and remove licences from premises where evidence exists of such.”