A town council has been criticised for shutting down a small basketball court in a coastal town after complaints about noisy teenagers playing late at night. Furious residents say the decision will lead to young people “causing chaos” in the streets after the popular multi-use games area (Muga) was suddenly closed.

Walmer Town Council, near Deal in Kent, said it acted after neighbours raised concerns about late-night noise, and cited cost concerns over keeping the facility open. Locals living nearby called the decision “really sad” and “upsetting,” saying it would leave teenagers with nowhere to go. Council officials said it cost £1,200 a year to unlock and lock the court, and the expense was no longer “cost-effective” for local taxpayers.

Some residents admitted the noise could be frustrating but said shutting the whole facility was a step too far.

Dianne Begg, 77, who lives opposite the court, told MailOnline the move had left her “upset”.

She said: “The noise at times could be annoying. Especially late at night when the ball hit the fence, it was bang, bang, bang.

“It could be frightening. But I am shocked to hear they have closed it all together. What use will that do? They'll have nowhere to go. It's not a good idea.”

Martyn O’Connor, 56, a plumber who has lived in the area for a decade, said the closure was “madness”.

He said: “I can’t believe they’ve done that. It’s foolish. It’s madness. There was some noise every so often. But don’t move into a house opposite a sports field if you don’t want to hear noise. What do people expect? It’s literally ten metres away.

“Go and live in the middle of nowhere if you don’t want some noise. Closing it is very foolish. There’s no benefit. You’ll just have youths playing on the streets and hanging around rather than doing something active.

“Walmer isn’t exactly full of wonderful things to do or tourist attractions. This at least gave the kids a purpose and it’s an activity. To close it is a very backward decision.”

A council spokesman said: “The decision was taken based on a few factors.

“We ran a survey on the usage of the Muga and found that only a minimal number of people were using the facility.

“When this was combined with the cost of opening the facility, members felt that this was no longer a cost-effective usage of the taxpayers’ money.

“Walmer Town Council received regular complaints about the noise from the facility from the neighbours about the facility.

“Another factor the council took into account was that down the road there has been significant investment in the facilities at both Victoria Park and Marke Wood.

“This includes Walmer Town Council investing £25,000 into a project with Dover District Council to deliver significant improvements to the play park at Marke Wood.

“The land is currently included as part of the Drill Field, which Walmer Town Council leases to Deal, Betteshanger and Walmer Rugby Club for use as their home pitch.

“There are no plans to sell any part of the Drill Field, all of which is leased to the rugby club.”