A DECISION over whether to reinstate a play area in Crabbs Cross has been delayed until the proposed Abbey Stadium development is in full swing.

Redditch Council's executive cabinet agreed to delay a final decision on a suggested development at The Pleck by 18 months at a meeting last Wednesday.

More than 300 residents in the area are lobbying for the reinstatement of the play equipment at the back of Forest View, which would cost £75,000, including CCTV cameras.

But council officers recommended the scheme be rejected on the grounds it might encourage the antisocial behaviour and litter which decreased following the removal of the original equipment.

Councillor Jack Field called for his fellow councillors to delay the decision until the proposed Abbey Stadium development was under way.

He said the new leisure complex would give youths an alternative place to go rather than hanging around children's play areas.

"Things might have changed for the youth of the town by then and we can have the play area without the antisocial behaviour problems and the need for CCTV," he said.

Councillor Andy Fry added: "I totally agree - they have done a lot of research on this and I support this with the proviso we revisit it in 18 months."

However Councillor Carole Gandy said the council needed to be careful not to reinstate play areas which had been rightly removed.

"People often move into areas and think they would like a play area but not really know the history of what has happened before.

"We have to resist, where possible, putting a play area where we are known to have had antisocial behaviour," she said.