A NEW Forest Scout group is barricading itself behind a two-metre steel fence to keep out vandals and thieves.

The 1st Barton Sea Scouts Group is to put up 60 metres of galvanised steel pallisade fence and gates around its headquarters in Long Meadow, off Becton Lane, at a cost of £5,258.

New Milton town councillors agreed to give grant aid of £300 after a report stated the expenditure will allow funds to be "devoted in future to developing and improving young people instead of repairing and replacing damage and theft from their premises". "The group has been suffering a continuing sequence of break-ins during which equipment has been stolen and vandalised, including the puncture of their RIB boat recently," the report said.

"The recent erection of security fencing to the rear, adjacent to the BMX woodland, has proved effective in that area, but break-ins continue elsewhere."

Group Scout leader Alan Goodey told the Daily Echo the building had been subject to a number of attacks in recent years but matters came to a head a month ago when the barbecue was stolen, a Scout truck was trashed in the woods and the safety boat damaged.

"It's cost us thousands of pounds to repair damage and that's beside the psychological damage to the kids - the Scouts - when they come in and see what's been done," he said.

He thanked the council for the £300 but added: "Quite frankly it's not enough to pay for the repairs to the damage."

Councillors have also given grants totalling £1,300 to another seven worthy causes.

New Milton Citizens Advice Bureau will receive £400 towards running costs and Ringwood's Forest Forge touring theatre company will get £300.

The fifth New Milton Music Festival, which has doubled in size and now attracts more than 500 performers and an equal number of spectators, will get £250.

New Forest Disability Information Service, which has offices in New Milton, Ringwood and Hythe, will get £120.

The 2004 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal will also get £120, £50 of which will pay for the town council's Poppy Day wreath.

The Winged Fellowship Trust, which provides holidays for the disabled, as well as visually impaired people and carers, will be given £140.

Barton Lace Group will be given £50 towards its library of specialist lace books.

First published: Oct 25