A KICKABOUT area designed to draw youngsters away from boozing and causing a nuisance is set to be installed in Headless Cross.

The move to create the area alongside the playground in Birchfield Road was given a majority vote at a Headless Cross Neighbourhood Group Meeting last week.

Redditch Conservative Party leader Carole Gandy, of Headless Cross and Oaken-shaw ward, said that of the 21 homeowners living nearest to the proposed site, only four had responded negatively.

"Those against the area are worried developments will be a magnet for anti-social behaviour," she said.

"But a similar kickabout area in Coldfield Drive and the Morton Stanley Skatepark have been looked after and I've not received a single complaint since they were built."

In April, resident Feckenham Road resident Graham Hemming, who was totally opposed to the scheme, claimed neighbourhood meetings were unfair after plans were given the go-ahead by just 20 residents.

But Mrs Gandy said: "People have to realise that we have to provide something to occupy youngsters in order to prevent them hanging around shopping centres and intimidating shoppers."

She added police would be patrolling the area to ensure antisocial behaviour was kept to a minimum.

Developments to the area, which include refurbishing the existing play area, are expected to be complete by Easter 2006.