PETERSFIELD Town Council members have expressed their anger at an incident that saw teenagers trying to force their way into the Avenue Pavilion – and suggested playing classical music as a remedy.
Anti-social behaviour problems at the pavilion had decreased after a ringleader teenager from Bosham appeared in court about a month ago, but the issue seems to have resurfaced.
Cllr Jamie Matthews said: “If it’s the same group as before, is it time to invoke exclusion orders banning them from the area.”
East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) deputy leader Julie Butler said: “EHDC deals with exclusion orders, and we can look into it.”
Town councillor Peter Clist added: “While I was in Germany there were similar problems, and classical music was played through speakers in the relevant areas, and the trouble makers disappeared.”
The councillors heard at their meeting on Thursday (May 30) in the Town Hall that about ten teenagers had been involved.
Council clerk Neil Hitch said: “They were smoking, drinking and playing loud music, and when one of our hall supervisors went round there, he felt threatened.
“After the dementia group left the pavilion, two or three of them tried to muscle their way in and refused to leave, and had to be virtually manhandled out.”
It was also suggested local schools were made aware of the issue, and the incident has added urgency to plans for CCTV cameras around the Pavilion, and at Bell Hill Recreation ground and the skate park off Love Lane, the meeting heard.
Mr Hitch said police would carry out extra patrols there when they could.