DESPITE continued problems with disorder in Lochgelly at the public park youth shelter, a local councillor says calls to remove the facility are misguided.

Cowdenbeath Area Committee heard on Wednesday that weekend activities at the shelter saw a lot of broken glass caused and invevitably residents nearby were unhappy about the problems.

But Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor, Mark Hood, felt that it was really a problem caused by under-age drinking and Chief Inspector Steven Hamilton, head of policing in the Dunfermline and West Central Fife area, in his first visit to the Area Committee, said that he was particularly concerned about the safety aspects of glass bottles being shattered and teenagers being faced with broken glass around them.

The Chief Inspector went on, “Kids getting their hands on alcohol is a problem and can lead to awkward situations developing and we have to use partnerships to tackle this sort of problem.

“We have to look to stopping the alcohol getting into the hands of the young people and also try to avoid the disturbance that can be caused in the public park.

“By sharing information from the likes of the community wardens who know the patch very closely we can make moves to curb the problems that have been occurring at the shelter. I will ensure that we take action to try to stop this sort of disturbance in Lochgelly Public Park.” Councillor Hood said that it was worrying that youngsters were drinking alcohol then wilfully breaking glass but he was totally against a desire in some quarters to take the shelter down.

“What we have to bear in mind here is that it is adults who are playing a part in all this by supplying the booze,” he went on, “and that is really frustrating.

“We cannot blame the youngsters when in the main it is adults that are purchasing the drink.

“And to get rid of the shelter would not be a good idea. While there are problems at the public park we know where they are gathering and can deal with it. To take the shelter away would just move it all on to somewhere else.

“I welcome the Chief Inspector’s moves to tackle this problem and I am sure that the residents will also be pleased with this.”