“This is a classic case of a bunch of ratbags spoiling things for everyone,” spokesman Marilyn Wilson said yesterday.

Behaviour by young drunks during the birthday party last Saturday night brought wide condemnation from nearby residents and resulted in police being called on a number of occasions.

Residents who contacted the Mercury early in the week said the under age alcohol consumption had been rampant and had been at the root of the problem.

They claimed that youths as young as 14 were involved in the melee when rowdy and drunken party goers spilled onto Mort Street, breaking glass, damaging a phone booth, throwing bottles into private yards and into the nearby creek, and abusing motorists who attempted to drive through the area.

Vandalism was also caused to the front gardens of nearby homes.

Residents said that when they complained to the adults who had organised the party for an 18 year old girl they were told the adults had been unable to control gate crashers.

Yesterday Mrs Wilson, president of the Vale Ladies Club that manages the hall on behalf of Lithgow Council, said the unacceptable behaviour of this and some previous groups had forced a decision to change the terms of the hiring contract.

“It seems there was no real supervision last Saturday night,” she said.

In future the hirer will be personally responsible for the behaviour of guests as well as for the removal of rubbish and payment for any damage.

The bond requirement will be increased for functions where alcohol is to be available and will be forfeited if the police have to be called.

Any future problems could result in the hall and its precinct being declared an alcohol free zone and restrictions placed on the permitted numbers of attendees.

Mrs Wilson said the hall was in use almost daily for various functions but the last two or three 18th birthday parties had been a real problem, particularly with no controls on under age drinking.

She said she could understand the real concerns being expressed by residents in the vicinity, particularly in view of the vandalism to gardens that occurred along Mort Street as the party disbanded.

“As usual it was a young ratbag element causing the problems,” she said.