A SURVEY into youth nuisance in Basingstoke has discovered that residents' biggest concern is noise.

The survey, conducted by author Lesley Deane, asked residents to write in saying where they lived, what problems they had suffered, and what action, if any, had been taken.

Ms Deane was asked to carry out the survey on behalf of a male Kempshott resident, who wanted to remain anonymous.

The complaints received were mainly from Black Dam, Brighton Hill, Hatch Warren, Kempshott, Oakley, Popley, Sherborne Road and Winklebury.

Of those who responded, the largest cause of complaint was noise - 63 per cent - followed by vandalism, abusive language, play area nuisance, theft and graffiti.

Common problems included groups of youths gathering near housing late at night, sometimes intimidating residents.

Some respondents said that when they were asked to quieten down, the youths became verbally, and even physically, abusive.

Youths were also reported to gather in or around children's play areas, even threatening the children and their parents, and leaving behind litter, including beer cans and syringes.

The only agency to be praised in the survey was the police, by 19 per cent of the correspondents, while 45 per cent felt the borough council was not listening to their concerns and 36 per cent blamed the parents.

In her conclusion, Ms Deane said: "The idea that Basingstoke is collapsing under an onslaught of youth nuisance is just not true. However, where it exists, there is a very real problem.

"Youth nuisance needs to be tackled nationally by obligating parents to be more responsible for the actions of their children, but it would appear more measures could be taken locally, possibly using by-laws."