PETERSFIELD'S controversial youth shelter now seems set to be located at The Avenue playing fields, but residents have mixed views on what that could mean for the area. The town council grounds committee met last week to recommend a possible site, after an extensive consultation period, and The Avenue emerged as the favoured location among councillors, over the other proposed site at Love Lane playing fields. The final decision rests with the full council when it next meets on August 4, but it was expected that members would act on the advice of the grounds committee. The spot councillors are recommending is on the side of The Avenue playing fields adjacent to Weston Road. It was chosen due to its proximity to street lighting. The design of the shelter had been changed, and would no longer, as previously expected, include solar lighting. Those who live and work near the proposed site have expressed mixed views on what the youth shelter will bring to their neighbourhood. A Weston Road resident, who did not wish to be named said: "We are a bit concerned that it will encourage drunken youths to misbehave. There is concern as it is a bit of an unknown. We are not sure what the result is going to mean." Maureen Oben, of Weston Road, whose house is adjacent to The Avenue, said: "This road is very dark during the winter. You can hardly see anything by six o'clock at night because the light is so dim. I think it's a waste. It will be no use in the winter. "I do sympathise with the young people as I have got boys of my own. When they were teenagers I often wished they had somewhere to go. There needs to be some facility for the youths." Ms Oben suggested Love Lane would be a good alternative site, as the community centre is there already, but conceded wherever the youth shelter was located "nobody wants it next to them". Kathleen Evans, of Weston Road, said: "They gather here a lot already and we get bottles and things thrown over the wall. We would not be able to keep an eye on them, and it does not happen with the police. It cannot be monitored. "The biggest problem is the noise. It only needs one or two of them larking about there, in the early hours of the morning sometimes. When they do get going it is absolutely horrendous. I foresee problems with it, I really do." However, there was some support for the site. David Banks, who works on The Avenue, said: "It sounds like a good idea. It's a recreation ground, so it seems like a sensible extension." The youth shelter is to come with an associated climbing frame. The shelter is designed to sit nine people, while the climbing frame can also act as somewhere for people to sit on. It was to be funded with £11,000 obtained by East Hampshire District Council through the lottery. Petersfield Town Council would be responsible for the maintenance of the shelter once it was in place. A public meeting was held last month where members of the public showed a massive lack of support for the project, but members of the town council resolved some time ago to position the shelter on town council-owned land. Grounds committee chairman Hilary Ayer said: "Of the two sites the full council asked us to look at (The Avenue and Love Lane) we were in favour of The Avenue, near the junction with Weston Road, as there is a light in that position. One of the important things was to have some ambient lighting, so kids themselves can see who is in the youth shelter and for casual surveillance for the people who live around there. The Avenue is also close to the town centre. "We know young people hang out on the Avenue anyway, all we are doing is saying to them, why not have something to sit on? I think it's very sensible to have the youth shelter where there are lots of other things to do. At The Avenue there are basketball courts, new tennis courts, and we could persuade them to take up some of these. There's also a lot of space to kick a football around, without it going into people's gardens and things. It is important the kids feel safe, and that the people around them can keep them safe." The town council also has plans to erect goal posts at The Avenue, which could provide another activity at the site. Mrs Ayer said: "The young people need something interesting to do as well. That is one of the reasons the youth shelter comes with a climbing frame." There are plans for a new pedestrian and vehicle gate at The Avenue opposite Weston Road to provide easier access. Councillors said the existing gate was "well past its sell by date".