A HASLEMERE resident has declared war following years of noise, swearing, broken glass and alcohol late at night on the High Lane estate recreation ground.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said more than 28 households in Kiln Fields and Parsons Green were directly affected by the problem. Children and adults gather almost every night on the recreation ground until the early hours of the morning.

The last straw for the resident was one Wednesday night when the drinking and shouting continued on the green until 2-40 am.

"It's getting to be a nightmare, the noise is horrendous," she said.

"There are revving cars and people urinate in the road. It's getting ridiculous, they are waking people who have to go to work, children and the elderly."

The problems started about seven years ago and have escalated, the resident claims, to include drug-taking and couples meeting in the children's play area.

"I've found needles by the swings," the resident claimed.

"And what if children find condom wrappers? They also urinate in the alleyway, which stinks in this hot weather and is the way children have to go to walk to school."

She claimed that residents feel that Waverley Borough Council isn't doing anything to help remove the problem.

"It feels to residents that the council is not interested as Kiln Fields is going to be developed.

"It's a bad situation for everyone, young and old. You'd think the council would have an obligation to their tenants.

"The council has given us a form to keep a record of the noiseevery time it happens, but it's not good enough. We all live in fear of them."

Formerly the problem was mainly at weekends.

"They walk and spit on people's cars and smash windscreens. Some people have taken on garages, but a lot can't afford them," she added.

"They think they're untouchable, if we say anything they threaten us.

"The police have not helped whatsoever, and we keep phoning them. Three residents phoned the police on the Wednesday night and it took them 20 minutes to get there."

The after-effects of the nightly gatherings can mean the play area is covered with beer cans and bottles the next morning, which can be a hazard for children.

"If it wasn't for residents clearing up the beer cans and glass, the children would not have anywhere to play," the resident continued.

"We've also found a handful of broken glass on the green. I don't let my children go out there unless I'm with them."

She added: "We're looking to moveb ut some people don't want to move, they want to stay in Haslemere. It gets us down, we're tired and we've had enough."

A spokesman for Waverley police confirmed that the police were called to Kiln Fields on the Wednesday at 12-30 am.

"The incident involved a small number of youths who were causing a disturbance," she said.

"The police spoke to the youths about their behaviour and the youths then left quietly.

"We have checked police records from the beginning of June and this is the only reported incident of this nature in the area."

But the spokesman added: "We would like to hear from any resident in the area troubled by incidents of anti-social behaviour."

A spokesman from Waverley said last week that the council had received no specific complaints of trouble on the Kiln Fields estate.

But, said the spokesman, anybody wishing to report an incident should contact either the police or Waverley who would be happy to look into any problems.

"We are in the process of recruiting a dedicated housing management officer for Kilnfields, who will be able to listen to residents' concerns and advise them accordingly."

p The spokesman said that an out-of-hours noise service could be contacted on 0239 2232874.