NEWLY approved plans to build a youth shelter on the troubled estate could make matters worse, worried residents have said.

Proposals to build an £8,000 shelter on White Wickets sports field would give youths a place to go but, according to Franche district councillor Howard Martin, run the risk of putting "all problems in one place".

Mr Martin said he raised the concerns at a meeting of the district council executive, which rubber-stamped the move earlier this month.

He said: "I expressed some reservations. I said I was worried about the fact that there is concern among some residents that it will put all the problems in one place.

"It could end up creating more problems than were there in the first place."

Mr Martin said he understood residents' concerns but believed the shelter should be built anyway as a positive gesture to the estate's young troublemakers.

His views were echoed by fellow Franche councillor Dick Barton who said: "It has taken us five years to get this far and it seems a shame just to say no at such a late stage.

"The idea of the shelter is to hand these young people some responsibility.

We have got to give the youth a chance and something of their own."

The 15ft x 13ft shelter is made of steel. Designers Base Leisure said an identical model once remained intact when a joy rider ploughed into it.

A spokesman said: "It will be there in many years."

The total cost of £8, 360 is being met by Kidderminster Youth Trust, Community Safety Partnership funding, the European Commission and Youth Action Extra.