D-day for councillors tackling drink-fuelled crime

A DECISION is to be taken by West Somerset district councillors on Monday, February 5, on whether to introduce alcohol-free zones in Minehead and Williton.
The move has been pioneered by Councillor Nick Messarra, who is a member of the council’s cabinet and is the past Mayor of Minehead and Alcombe, with the support of The Crier.
Councillor Messarra has pressed for the measure to combat anti-social behaviour which residents and visitors alike have experienced in Minehead’s Blenheim Gardens.
However, some of his fellow town councillors stalled the process while he was the town mayor as they claimed the problems in the park had been overstated and banning drinking was unnecessary.
Now, the district cabinet is being recommended by officers to declare Blenheim Gardens as an Alcohol Designation Zone, which will allow police to take tougher action against drunks and hooligans.
The cabinet is also being asked to do the same for the Memorial Ground, in Williton, where parish councillors and local residents have faced ongoing vandalism and rowdyism over many months.
Other areas which will be considered for the designation orders include:

• The recreation area adjacent to Irnham Road, Minehead (excluding the curtilages of the football club)
• The sea front area of Minehead, including Warren Road and Quay Street and including the entire highway area and footpaths
• The King George V Recreation Ground, Minehead
• The area known as the Rose Garden, adjacent to Seaward Way, Minehead
• The area known as Bellamy’s Corner, Williton
• The area of land adjacent to Seaward Way and Bircham Road to the north west of the roundabout at Ellicombe, Minehead

District council community safety officer Pete Hughes said: “The consideration of implementing designated public place orders resulted from continuing issues of alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Following representations from the police during the public consultation, the council will also discuss whether similar designation should be made in respect of other locations.
“The police representation was made on the basis of probable displacement of the problems to other specified locations. Within the legislation, there is a requirement for councillors to consider displacement.”
If approved, designation orders will mean that people responsible for alcohol related anti-social behaviour can be arrested if they do not comply with a request from a police officer or community support officer to stop drinking or fail to surrender containers of alcohol.
Mr Hughes said: “The orders provide police with enhanced powers to address the continuing issue of anti-social behaviour fuelled by alcohol which has detracted, for a number of years, from the enjoyment of the areas proposed for designation.
“It will also provide police with powers to address similar issues in areas which may be subject to displacement.”

• Our photograph shows Councillor Nick Messarra in Blenheim Gardens with an earlier copy of The Crier backing his campaign. Photo submitted.

Positive ideas to tackle Dulverton anti-social behaviour

POSITIVE options are being looked into as to how the community of Dulverton and local agencies can work together to tackle a wave of vandalism and other anti-social behaviour which has hit the town.
Ideas for resolving the crime and disorder challenge came out of a packed public meeting held in Dulverton Town Hall.
Residents attending the meeting said in the first instance they wanted better communication with the agencies through regular surgeries on a three or six-monthly basis.
It was agreed by the agencies attending the meeting that such surgeries could be arranged.
The meeting was attended by representatives of West Somerset Council, Dulverton Town Council, Magna West Somerset Housing Association, Somerset County Council’s Youth Service, and the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
They put forward options and listened to the views of local people on how anti-social behaviour in the area should be tackled.
District council community support officer Pete Hughes said: “Comparatively speaking, Dulverton is a very safe place to live.
“Anti-social behaviour has dropped since a spate of incidents last September, but we will continue to work with the community in a way that suits them as a deterrent to those whose behaviour is not acceptable to the community as a whole.”
Town Councillor Ian Fleming, who has been liaising between the community and the agencies, said: “The town council is encouraged by the number of residents who attended the meeting.
“We are looking forward to working with the community to keep up the good work that has already been achieved by the different agencies.
“There is no doubt that an increased police presence has helped bring down the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour so, as a community, we must help the police by reporting any anti-social behaviour or crimes we might witness.”
Sgt Dave Butter, who is responsible for neighbourhood policing in the Dulverton, Exmoor, and Porlock area, said crime figures for Dulverton were low.
However, he encouraged people to let the police know about crime in the area in case it was being under-reported.
He said: “We plan to continue to work with the community to ensure the quality of life enjoyed within the Dulverton area continues.
“If anybody has any information or crimes they wish to report I would encourage them to do so as this enables us to target our patrols.”
Police telephone numbers to use are 999 for emergencies or 0845 456 7000 for all other matters.
Christine Boland, of Magna, said: “The behaviour of the overwhelming majority of our tenants gives us no cause for concern whatsoever.
“However, when a minority, however small, breach their tenancy agreements by behaving anti-socially and causing problems in the community, we will work with the community and the police to end the problems by whatever means are available to us.
“We are doing this in Dulverton at the moment and I would encourage local residents to keep reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour to the police and, where Magna tenants are involved, to us as well.”

Photo of Dulverton Lawns submitted.

Dulverton community being asked to help combat anti-social behaviour

RESIDENTS of Dulverton are being invited to a community meeting on January 17 to help come up with a solution for a wave of anti-social behaviour which has struck the town.
West Somerset Council is co-ordinating the meeting, which is being held at 7 pm in Dulverton Town Hall.
The council wants to build on the positive action taken so far in response to the anti-social behaviour which was experienced last autumn.
The council’s community safety officer, Pete Hughes, said: “Although the incidents were of a relatively minor nature, the council has met with Dulverton Town Council, Avon and Somerset Police, the county youth service, and local housing providers to take positive action to help ensure incidents do not become more serious or more frequent.
“At the meeting, we will be reassuring local people and asking them if they would like to form a community group to help ensure our recent achievements turn into long-term solutions.”
A town council representative is already working with local agencies to deal with the problems.
Steps taken so far include an increased police presence, better signposting to youth activities, and action by housing providers against nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Hughes said: “By and large, this sort of behaviour is uncharacteristic of Dulverton.
“In line with all parishes in West Somerset, Dulverton is one of the safest places to live in the country.
“However, we do not expect local communities to have to put up with anti-social behaviour which is why we have acted swiftly to address issues.
“So far, the reaction to our initiatives has been very good, with a significant drop in anti-social behaviour in the area.
“However, our achievements are more likely turn into long-term benefits if the community is part of the solution.
“With this in mind, we are appealing for as many local people as possible to contribute time and energy towards achieving the shared goals for Dulverton.
“We are hoping that the community will show its commitment to the future social well-being of the town and come to the meeting next week to decide how it would like to see our recent efforts taken forward.”

• Our photographs show Dulverton Town Hall, in The Square, and also the Lorna Doone statue which stands beside the Exmoor House Lawns. Photos submitted.