GADBROOK Road playing field at Rudheath is to be locked overnight for a trial period in a bid to stop young people keeping people living nearby awake.

The field is to be locked between about 9.30pm and 7.30am following complaints from people living in Gadbrook Road about noise from youths using the area late at night.

The field is to be locked at both entrances, in Gadbrook Road and West Avenue, by Rudheath Parish Council, for a trial period of a month from the start of August to see if it improves the situation.

The gates are to be locked by Cllr Andy Hancock, who is the chairman of the parish council’s playing fields committee.

“The aim of locking the gates at night is to deter anti-social behaviour on the playing field late at night,” said Cllr Hancock, who lives near the playing field.

“I have had complaints from people whose homes back onto the field about noise from girls using the field at about 1.30am.

“They have been screaming and shouting, and it has been keeping people living in Gadbrook Road and Ash Bank awake.

“The noise has been a problem for a while now, and we will be locking the gates for a month to see if it improves things.

“The playing field will be locked from between 9.30pm and 9.45pm, and reopened between 7.30am and 7.45am.”

The parish council is responsible for two playing fields, Gadbrook Road and Griffiths Park, with the main entrance to the former being off Gadbrook Road.