A FURIOUS Headless Cross man has branded neighbourhood group meetings as "unfair" after plans for a new kickabout area were given the go-ahead by just 20 residents.

With the exception of Graham Hemming, of Feckenham Road, residents voted in favour of installing the area at Birchfield Road playing field at a recent neighbourhood meeting.

But Mr Hemming, who is totally opposed to the scheme, said the meeting failed to represent the public as a whole.

"There are hundreds of residents in Headless Cross yet a decision has been made by just 20 people," he fumed.

"I know for a fact there are people who don't want this as these areas become a magnet for underage drinkers and they're living in cloud cuckoo land if they think this will stop antisocial behaviour."

But Redditch councillor Carole Gandy, who represents Headless Cross and Oakenshaw ward, said the kickabout area was a positive move designed to draw youngsters away from boozing and causing a nuisance.

She said older people originally lived in the area but had been replaced by a growing number of youngsters with nothing to occupy them.

"Youngsters are hanging around the shopping centre and Walkwood school's playing fields because they don't have so much as a community centre," added Mrs Gandy.

"I know neighbourhood group meetings aren't ideal and I've raised concerns about them in the past but at present, they're the only vehicle we have for consulting with residents.

"We have about 200 people on the neighbourhood group mailing list but if only 30 people choose to come along, there's not a great deal we can do.''

However, she said councillors were looking into alternatives, such as resurrecting the Residents' Association.