A CONTROVERSIAL youth shelter is nothing but a park bench with a roof on it, according to Middlewich police.

And the CAT team is assuring residents that if the shelter, planned for Fountain Fields, causes an increase in anti-social behaviour it will be removed.

PCSO Roger Need said: "The shelter is just a bench with a roof on it, it is not enclosed and anyone can see into it.

"Fountain Fields already has several benches which anyone can sit on and the new bench with a roof would just be an additional seating area.

"The park is the only area in Middlewich which is for all the community - the children's play area caters for the under sevens, the bowling green is for the older generation and the two enclosed courts have basketball hoops and football goals for the teenagers.

"The new bench would just improve seating for all these community groups."

Residents presented a 126-signature petition to Middlewich Town Council at its June meeting in protest against the plans, which they believe could attract nuisance youths to the park, off Queen Street.

But PCSO Need said the shelter, proposed by Congleton community safety partnership, would initially be put in for a three-month trial period.

He said: "I appreciate that the residents are concerned about this new bench causing more anti-social behaviour but the Middlewich CAT team does not want to create more anti-social behaviour and at the moment we do not feel this will happen."

He added: "The proposal for a three-month trial is the fairest way of making sure that if any problems arise from the bench it can be removed."

The community safety partnership will consult with the town council before a final decision is made.