STRINGENT new powers to remove teenagers from children's play areas should ensure they are kept safer for youngsters to use, councillors heard.

As reported by the Gazette last week, South Lakeland District Council is considering adopting by-laws which would mean over 14 year olds would not be allowed into any of SLDC's 52 play areas.

The proposed by-laws - which could be in force by the start of the summer holidays - would also enforce the closure of the self-enclosed, equipped play areas overnight.

Anyone breaking the by-laws could be moved on by police and, in extreme cases, offenders could be arrested and fined up to £500 in the magistrates courts.

Parks and contracts officer Tony Naylor told councillors on Tuesday that every year the council spends up to £3,000 clearing up and repairing damage caused by gangs of teenagers who hang out in the play areas late at night.

Broken glass has had to be regularly removed from some play areas, and the by-laws would improve the safety of the playgrounds, he added.

Coun Gill Cranwell said it was a shame that the powers could not be extended to cover self-enclosed skate ramp parks, and Mr Naylor said he would take legal advice as to whether this was possible.

Coun Gordon Jenkinson said the advantage of the by-laws would be that it gave officers immediate power to remove teenagers from the playgrounds, although Coun Graham Vincent said he was concerned the problem would simply be moved elsewhere, and wondered if the real issue was a lack of facilities for14-16 year olds in the area.

Coun Edward Robinson said he welcomed the move, but added that he did not think it would offer a cure-all solution.

"I'm sure it's not going to take the problem away, but at least it will take the problem away from our play areas," said Coun Jane Hoyle.

After slightly amending the proposed times the play areas would close to 7pm during the winter and 9pm in summer, the general purposes committee recommended the by-laws went before the full council for approval.

Using the Government's fast-track system for adopting model by-laws, the proposals will then be sent to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and, after a month's consultation, the Secretary of State will decide whether to approve them.