A SKATE park costing £75,000 will attract junkies and become a hotbed for anti-social behaviour, according to residents opposing the scheme.

A Brighton Hill community is pulling together to try to block the proposal for a new skate park on playing fields off Gershwin Road. Residents say their fears are being ignored by Basingstoke council. Basingstoke MP Andrew Hunter has offered to help their cause.

Steve Vickery, of Bach Close, said: "None of us are against the kids having facilities. What we do care about is that the borough council has approved £75,000 after talking to teenagers. Every one of them is under the age of 18 and none of them pay council tax."

Mr Vickery said residents rallied together after finding out about the plan because they fear it will attract trouble.

"The true nippers who do want to use it won't be able to," he said. "This would be an ideal meeting place for junkies and God knows what else. They are going to walk down through this estate and use it as a toilet and rubbish bin."

Clare Emsley, of Novello Close, said residents were angry because teenagers had been consulted about the park before taxpayers were given a say. They also feel the council should have given the youngsters a choice of what facility they were given.

However, the council's Cabinet member for recreation and culture, Cllr John Shaw, said there is a need for a new skate park in the area and residents were being consulted. He said: "We are writing to 700 householders altogether, letting them know what we have in mind.

"The residents' views are very important and I'll be listening very carefully."

A meeting of councillors and residents will be held in the pavilion on the Brighton Hill playing fields on October 8, from 6.30pm to 9pm.