Bid to beat stone yobs

Stone-throwing youths on the rampage in Burntwood, who cause misery for others with their antics, are set to be stopped in their tracks when a footpath is revamped.

County councillor Eric Drinkwater has revealed the footpath between Burntwood Leisure Centre and the town's youth centre has been a constant source of problems for some time, as youths pick up stones from the path and use them as missiles.

They have caused severe damage to both property, and individuals, and action is now being taken to get the path completely resurfaced to stop such behaviour.

Councillor Drinkwater has pledged to use £2,000 of his allowance from the Local Members Initiative Scheme (LMIS), and is currently working with Lichfield District Council leisure services, and the area's Community Safety Partnership, to secure the £7,000 needed to resurface the path. He is also calling on fellow county councillors to dip into their LMIS funds to help raise the funds.

"The path has been the subject of anti-social behaviour," said councillor Drinkwater. "It is the young people themselves who have complained. They use the skatepark at the leisure centre and are always getting stones thrown at them."