Published:
February 24, 2007
Video coverage of Burnham-On-Sea
MP's visit to vandalism-hit street
The
introduction of an 8ft high gate, new CCTV cameras, and more police
patrols were among the options put forward when Burnham-On-Sea's
MP visited the town on Saturday (February 24th) to discuss ways
to tackle vandalism along a street plagued with problems.
David
Heathcoat-Amory was in town to meet residents of South Street,
which has suffered several violent late night vandalism incidents
during recent weeks which residents believe is being caused by
late drinkers walking from seafront pubs to the High Street.
Ironically,
the MP's visit came just hours after more problems on Friday night
when noisy youths woke residents along the street.
Residents
want a solution put forward to tackle the issues. The visit came
after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported
earlier this month about problems along the street.
The
MP was presented with a petition from residents who are keen to
find a solution to the problems of rowdiness caused by late night
drinkers apparently using the road as a cut-through from pubs
on the seafront to the High Street.
Mr Heathcoat-Amory told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We've got to
get to grip with this. It's not necessarily crimes being committed
but it's vandalism, it's noise, it's after-hours drinking, it's
broken bottles and glass and so on, abuse and people urinating
against peoples' walls and houses."
"It's
got to stop so we have everybody working on this - we've got the
police down here to look at it, we've got Sedgemoor council who
are going to help and I am going to help by writing to Sedgemoor.
There's the possibility of a camera, a gate to restrict access,
more police visits."
"There's
no single solution but we're all determined to crack this one
because there's no doubt about it - the standard of life and ordinary
behaviour of the people here is being degraded by what's happening
so we've got to crack this one because this is what people mind
about. It's their neighbourhood and we've got to look after it."
Val
Carter of the South Street Neighbourhood Watch said: "I was
pleased with the meeting this morning. We were really pleased
with the decisions that have been made and the co-operation with
everybody and we hope it can be implemented to give everyone a
securer, quieter life."
District
councillor Arthur Thorogood, who helped to organise the MP's visit,
added that he was pleased with how the event had gone and hoped
it would lead to positive changes for the street.
David
Heathcoat-Amory was in town to meet residents of South Street,
which has suffered several violent late night vandalism incidents
during recent weeks which residents believe is being caused by
late drinkers walking from seafront pubs to the High Street.
The
MP was presented with a petition from residents who are keen to
find a solution to the problems of rowdiness caused by late night
drinkers apparently using the road as a cut-through from pubs
on the seafront to the High Street.
"There's
no single solution but we're all determined to crack this one
because there's no doubt about it - the standard of life and ordinary
behaviour of the people here is being degraded by what's happening
so we've got to crack this one because this is what people mind
about. It's their neighbourhood and we've got to look after it."
