Fury at plan for mixed teen care home

3:14pm Friday 9th May 2008

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A CONTROVERSIAL care home for teenagers could soon become mixed sex, the Echo can reveal.

Essex County Council is considering housing girls with boys at the Limes children's home, in New Century Road, Laindon.

The home currently has six boys, aged up to 18, and has room for eight more youngsters.

The suggestion has outraged locals.

They claim the home is already a magnet for antisocial behaviour and fear the introduction of females will only make matters worse.

George Wheatley, 74, of New Century Road, said: "Problems have been going on with that place for years.

"It will just get worse if girls come, but I've given up going to council meetings because they just cover it all up.

"All I do now is look after my own boundary and have told the police that."

Last October, the Echo reported neighbours wanted the home closed following a spate of incidents where police were called out.

John Dornan, Tory councillor for Laindon Park, said he had been inundated with calls from worried locals.

He said: "There are already problems from people who either live there or hang around it with stuff thrown into gardens, cars being damaged and unruly behaviour.

"With hormones flying around, housing girls there will only increase the problem.

"Residents have already reported teenagers having sex on the pavement outside."

Mr Dornan accused County Hall of burying its head in the sand over problems connected to the home for a number of years.

He added: "They are in constant denial and refuse to accept there is a problem.

"Yet on many occasions they have paid residents out for damage to cars and property running into hundreds of pounds."

Toby Allanson, county council spokesman, said: "The council is considering the admission of girls to the Limes children's home and the practicalities of achieving this are currently being looked at.

"Offering a service to a mixed group of young people would be consistent with other provision in Essex."