Vandalism and a lack of youth provision are expected to dominate discussions at Bradford Council's first Neighbourhood Forum meeting for Dudley Hill.

A special meeting for residents living around Fenby Avenue has been called for Thursday following repeated complaints about crime and destructive acts.

Home owners have complained that too few facilities are available for young people moving to live on the North British Housing Association's Longfield Drive estate.

And parents were angered by news that funding for a full-time youth worker at the Jireh House youth centre in Fred's Place was to be axed by Bradford Council.

Tony Carey, 42, a private home owner in Fenby Close, said: "I hope tenants and home owners go to the meeting to give their views.

"I'd like to think we can work together as a community.

"The Council has let people down in the past by not listening and I don't think they have a grasp of the situation."

Mr Carey said the Council had failed the area's young people by refusing to continue funding a youth worker for Jireh House .

A questionnaire from North British Housing is currently being circulated to houses in and around the Longfield Drive estate asking people to identify the area's problems.

The closure of a snicket used as a meeting place by gangs in Fenby Avenue is being considered.

Last Saturday a fire was started in an empty house beside the snicket, which has been blighted by vandalism.

Catherine McCrink, of North British Housing, said she hoped the meeting would mark a new era of co-operation between her organisation, the police, Bradford Council and residents.

She said: "We are keen to hear what people think and we are open to suggestions."

Councillor John Ryan, (Bowling, Lab), said: "I'm as disappointed as everyone that the youth provision has been cut."

All the community should be involved in sorting out problems. "I'm anxious that we don't create an apartheid between the private residents and housing association tenants," he said.

The forum meeting will start at 7.30pm at Lowerfields Middle School in Fenby Avenue.

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