VILLAGERS fear drug-taking "undesirables" will flock to a skateboard ramp near their homes.

And they are fuming after not being given the chance to air their views at a Kempsey Parish Council meeting.

Two dozen people had waited for two hours to hear members discuss the proposal and were furious when they were not allowed to speak.

The council, which has an open forum for public comment every three months, had the last one in September, when Kempsey Youth Club chairman Julie Staite and one of the members, Jake Abbott, argued the case for a ramp.

They said youth club members would work hard to raise the funds if the council gave provisional consent to the project, which would still need planning approval.

More than 50 people have since signed a petition objecting to a ramp near Plovers Rise and six have written letters of objection.

At this week's meeting, chairman Joy Clee said objectors had raised grave concerns.

"You have to balance the needs and aspirations of the youths with the concerns of the residents," she told members.

Coun Neville Brookes said the ramp would be placed as far as possible from the houses, leaving room for a bowling green, which residents said they would have preferred.

There were worries about the facility attracting litter, graffiti, bad language, loud music, drug-taking, vandalism, bullying, and "undesirables" from outside the village.

Members acknowledged that some troublemakers might be attracted to the area and suggested any problems should be reported immediately to Kempsey beat officer PC Nick Revell.

"It does seem sad that we knock youngsters all the time and when there is a group willing to work hard to get something we throw their intentions back in their faces," said Coun Kim Rowswell.

The meeting was adjourned for five minutes amid noisy interruptions from residents anxious to take part in the discussion.

Afterwards, Elaine Wooldridge, of Plovers Rise, said the chairman's summary had not represented the "full, frank, structured and well thought-out" letters of objection.

Neighbour Ken Smith said he had monitored the number of children using skateboards in the village and there were seven - not enough to justify installing a ramp.

Martin Kimpton said their fears were not about the youth club members, but about "the things the yobs are going to do".