Dalton Community Action Group has expressed disappointment after a call for lights and CCTV to be installed in a car park was rejected by Barrow Borough Council.

The measures were called for by the group, as they claim there is a persistent problem in regards to anti-social behaviour at Dalton Leisure Centre’s car park.

A spokesperson for the group said: “People are furious that the car park is being used by local youths for drug-taking and anti-social behaviour, where cars have been vandalised and bins set on fire.

“Why should we live in fear of sending our kids to the park where there is drug packets and paraphernalia all over the place and not being able to go out at nighttime due to youths doing whatever they want?

“When staff ask the groups to move, they just get abuse because there are no repercussions.

“Simon Fell and the council both sounded really interested to sort this issue, but they are obviously not.”

However, Barrow Borough Council leader Ann Thomson said that the authority was committed to tackling Dalton’s issue with anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Thomson said: "For several weeks we've been working with Cumbria police, Dalton Community Action Group and other organisations to look at the root cause of any anti-social behaviour in the area – a continuing process that has been very positive and productive.

"While the council has not received a formal request for funding for either lighting or CCTV for Dalton Leisure Centre car park, permission was sought for the installation of domestic-grade CCTV cameras on site.

"The request was not in line with legal requirements of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice or GDPR and, therefore, we were not able to grant this.

"In addition, the expert advice we received was that working with partners in the area – including Cumbria police – was a more effective way forward to address the concerns of residents and the needs of young people in our area.

"We continue to be involved in the partnership work as it moves to find the best and most effective solutions to this issue."