WARNDON Villages' newly constructed youth shelter has come in for a barrage of criticism - with one parish councillor branding it 'a diabolical eyesore'.

The long-awaited shelter, built to provide teenagers with a place to congregate, was put up a fortnight ago.

But members of the parish council said they were disappointed.

"What does it achieve exactly?" asked Ray Morris.

"It doesn't offer them any protection from the rain and it's a diabolical eyesore. It's not even modern art, it's rubbish."

The shelter had been in the pipeline for three years after reports that Warndon Villages, and the Lyppard Grange area in particular, was plagued by anti-social behaviour.

It has been constructed on land beside the Lyppard Grange community centre in Ankerage Green at a cost of around £10,000.

"It's a waste of public money," commented another parish council member, David Eastwood.

"It sticks out like a sore thumb. As far as I'm concerned, it will be just like standing out in the rain."

The construction has also been criticised by a Worcester city councillor.

Lucy Hodgson said the shelter was attracting rubbish, and it did not help that there was no bin.

"I'm sad to see lots of litter around it," she said.

"Unfortunately, the young people think it's not much use when it rains as they get wet backsides."

However, youth workers remain convinced that the shelter will stop anti-social behaviour outside shops and houses - and the youngsters are still close enough to be seen.

Now the council is flyposting, too

PEOPLE from Warndon Villages were shocked to find their own council was adding to the problem of flyposting in the parish.

Council member Dawn Merriman said she had had complaints that posters for the parish fun run were distracting motorists.

"Even though it's something the parish council is involved in, at the end of the day it is flyposting," she said.

She said posters advertising all sorts of events and companies were proving a distraction at Junction 6 of the M5, although they were soon taken down if motorists telephoned the Highways Agency or police.

Parish council chairman Andrew Philpott said it was important to publicise the fun run, to be held on Sunday, June 5, but organisers would avoid putting up posters where they could be a nuisance.