The pensioners at Hartwell Court in Church Street say buses bringing youths to and from the centre will be dropping rowdy gangs off directly outside the complex, there will be noise late at night and the building is not in keeping with the area.

Betty Rimmington said she would not have forked out for her pricey apartment five months ago if she would have known about the plans for the youth centre on the corner of Derby Road.

She said: "Some nights it's going to be going on until 11pm and we are all concerned. There are going to be a lot of youngsters around and that bus stop is right outside my window."

Resident Hilda Johnson said: "We already get cans and all sorts thrown in our gardens by youths who are walking past."

The residents say the youth centre is unnecessarily high for a one-storey building and it will block their view. They also said it is too modern and not in-keeping with the old buildings in the area.

The pensioners were angry that Nottinghamshire County Council called a public meeting on Monday, March 15, to discuss the proposals and hand out the plans – but only wrote to residents in the immediate vicinity.

About 40 residents from Hartwell Court and Derby Road went to the meeting, but Ms Rimmington said they did not get their questions answered.

People living on Derby Road told the Advertiser last month they were worried about the centre attracting ex-cons and drug addicts because a youth offending team will be based there.

The Sunnycroft Centre, which used to be the Scout hut, is now a health and safety hazard because of vandalism, and will be knocked down to make way for the new £2m youth centre over the next few months.

The last youth club in the town was held at Eastwood Comprehensive School, but it closed down to make way for a new reception building.

Sales staff for Hartwell Court are also worried they might struggle to sell the remaining apartments because of the youth centre.

Cllr Philip Owen, Nottinghamshire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The meeting was a positive one in which we assured people that sound pollution, anti-social behaviour and late night events would be very rare occurrences, if they occur at all.

"I think we should all remember that the centre will be open to all young people aged from 13 to 19, and that will benefit everyone.

"Providing young people with positive activities at evenings and weekends is proven to reduce anti-social behaviour."