A FENCE around a deserted house that has fallen prey to vandals should be electrified to keep them out, a councillor suggested.

Slaidburn resident Peter Goodill asked Ribble Valley Council's Community Committee to replace a fence around his mother's unoccupied home in Rogersfield, Langho.

Young vandals had caused £2,500 worth of damage and he had been threatened with arson when he tried to stop them.

"These are not very nice children," he said. "It is quite a serious situation. They cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters and broke five windows in the garage. I have repaired the fence six times in six months."

The meeting heard that the house was next to a recreation ground used by the youngsters. But access to the ground had been lost when nearby land was sold to developers, councillors were told.

The council's chief engineer, Graham Jagger, said the fence had been a problem since "day one".

"In the past Mr Goodill has sought police assistance to stop people trespassing but in view of the threats and abuse he has received has decided to leave the unofficial access open for the time being.

"There are three ways of dealing with the problem: creating a new access elsewhere, replacing the fence, or doing nothing. Creating a new access would require planning permission and any new fence would have to be substantial and constantly maintained.

"The property has suffered considerable damage over the months but the council does not have a responsibility to erect fencing or prevent people trespassing on land," he said.

Coun Dave Smith said there "wasn't a fence anywhere" which could stop young people determined to get through it.

But Coun Harry Backhouse, a farmer, retorted: "Yes there is, an electric fence. They would only have to touch it once and that would stop them. It works wonders with my cattle."

Councillors decided not to act after Coun Graham Sowter said: "We would just be erecting a fence for it to get destroyed again."

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