ANTI-SOCIABLE behaviour by youths is causing anxiety to elderly residents at a sheltered housing complex in Bromsgrove.

Measures to tighten security at Lowes Court, Norton, have already been put in place but members of Bromsgrove District Council's cabinet, which meets tonight (Wednesday), will decide if further action is needed to combat the problem.

The matter has been put on the agenda at the request of Labour spokeswoman on housing issues councillor Cathy Mole (Sidemoor).

She has urged the cabinet to consider arranging for security patrols to visit two or three times per evening, three or four times a week, installing CCTV cameras, and erecting additional security fencing.

In a report to the cabinet, housing chief Andrew Coel said following previous incidents two-meter high steel fencing has been erected to the rear boundary of 21 bungalows on the complex and similar sized lockable gates have been installed at seven entrances to rear paths.

Railings have been made "climb proof," bin stores locked and the warden given log sheets to hand to tenants who have experienced problems in order to gather accurate evidence.

Mr Coel said residents have been troubled by the behaviour of a group of young people but stressed it was unacceptable to turn the site into a fortress.

"We are taking the matter very seriously and are continuing to monitor to assess whether the situation has improved as a result of action already taken," he said.

"Members will decide whether they feel further measures need to be implemented."