THE community is sharply divided on whether the shelter on Ledbury Recreation, which is seen as a focus for anti-social behaviour, should be taken down or moved .

The matter was debated at last week's full town council meeting in the Community Hall, when local PC Sarah Ransome-Williams gave police statistics which revealed that only three complaints of anti-social behaviour had been logged for the Recreation Ground during the past 18 months, and she added: "We would not support the shelter being removed at all.

"If the sheltered was removed it would make some people who use the shelter gravitate towards the town, and under the Market House."

Ledbury resident Sally Holliday called for an assessment of what she termed "the real issues" before voting to remove the shelter, and that assessment should include "consulting with the young people of the town".

But Cllr Tony Bradford said police should not "pooh pooh" local concerns about the shelter, which had been named in complaints to town councillors as a focus for drinking, anti-social behaviour and even drug taking.

Addressing PC Ransome-Williams, he said: "I'm telling you what I've been told by loads and loads of people."

Cllr Bradford added: "Do we ignore the public? Turn a blind eye?"

Concerning the complaints, Cllr Andrew Warmington said: "No-one is making anything up ."

But he added: "There's not much for young people in this town, and they've got to somewhere. Removing the shelter might displace the problems all over the town."

Cllr Keith Francis, on the other hand, said discussions about removing the shelter had come "like a bolt out of the blue".

He said: "I think it's a complete over-reaction. The police have not recorded huge numbers of complaints in recent months. I think we need to look at CCTV footage and see if there are problems there."

He added that removing the shelter would be "a draconian move".

Cllr Bob Barnes said that if there was drinking going on down there, in an alcohol free zone, that could be "addressed as an enforcement issue" for the police, and he added: "We cannot control what goes on after dark."

Cllr Barnes was in favour of the shelter remaining.

Cllr Harrison Wilce, the second youngest Ledbury councillor, questioned the value of CCTV footage on the Recreation Ground, based on personal experience, from a few years ago.

He said: "I was assaulted down there to the point I was not recognisable. I was told the CCTV tapes had been deleted. In that case, the CCTV was not used to solve an issue.

"I think it would be bad to just ignore an issue."

He suggested moving the shelter 20ft away from the skate park and the play area.

"Kids should feel comfortable down here," he said.

Councillors agreed discuss the issue further at the next environment and leisure committee meeting.