RESIDENTS of a Poole estate fear a return to the troubled bad old days if a school for disruptive teenagers is placed in their neighbourhood.

“It will kick off,” said one worried mum, fearful of the consequences if Turlin Moor provides education facilities for 40 of the area’s most difficult teenagers.

Borough of Poole is proposing to use part of the vacant Turlin Moor First School building, ploughing in £1.2m to educate 40 of the Quay School’s 14-16 year-olds.

These are youngsters who cannot be educated in mainstream schools for emotional, behavioural or medical reasons and currently attend sites at Broadstone and Rossmore.

Following a drop-in session for residents on Monday, it was rushed to cabinet the following day and goes to full council next Tuesday.

There, councillors will be presented with a petition from unhappy residents, which after just one day in the shop boasted 250 signatures.

Concerns have been raised that the first school already has a children’s centre and pre-school, is next to the community school and opposite the shops – and the lack of consultation.

“Turlin Moor has earned itself a good reputation now,” said one long term resident.

“We don’t want it to go downhill. It’s the safety of the children and residents as well.”

Another mum said: “This is bringing more trouble on here. If everything kicks off they could end up shutting these shops down. We would be lost without the shops.”

Another raised concerns that teenagers from right across the town would hang around after school, potentially causing a flashpoint with local youths.

“The Turlin Moor estate will get the bad press again and it won’t necessarily be people from Turlin Moor,” said resident Julie Bagwell, who is also chairman of the Hamworthy Safer Neighbourhood scheme.

Resident Lou Knight, of Turlin Moor Action Group said: “The consultation was extremely bad. If they want to get the public on their side they need to come up with a better solution. It’s already a done deal. We are very disappointed.”

Petition organiser Lee Turner, a parent governor at Turlin Moor Community School said: “They are trying to do this without the proper consultation process. I have yet to speak to a person who is for it.”

He said: “Everybody understands the work the school does and that’s valid and it has to be done.

“It’s wrong to put it here.”

Vicky Wales, the council’s head of children and young people’s integrated services said: “There is no alternative building suitable for the Quay School and moving the Key Stage 4 services the school offers to Turlin Moor offers good value for money as we will be making use of an under occupied building.

“We hope that the whole community will be able to make use of the new facilities the Quay School will offer and both the children’s centre and Turlin Moor Action Group have shown their support for the new proposals.

“Some residents have expressed concern and the school and the council will work with local residents and groups to make sure the move is a success and any concerns are resolved.”