Forces combine against rowdies

From the archive, first published Thursday 3rd Oct 2002.

A 'contract' between police, pubs, residents and councils is being drawn up to combat drunkenness and antisocial behaviour in Wallingford town centre.

If successful the idea could be taken up by residents in other parts of the town.

The contract was suggested by a resident attending a packed public meeting in Wallingford town hall, called by residents living in the area around the lower stretch of the High Street.

It was attended by area commander Ch Supt Katherine Govier, Wallingford mayor Nigel Moor, and South Oxfordshire District Council leader Jan Morgan and chief executive David Buckle.

Resident Mike Windsor said people had been plagued by antisocial behaviour from young people coming from the Boat House and the Town Arms pubs.

He said windows were regularly broken, people were seen vomiting and urinating in the street and there was noise, drunkenness, fighting and general rowdiness outside homes.

Mr Windsor suggested a contract to be signed up to by police, pubs, residents, town and district councils.

It would include the pubs cutting down on noise and preventing drunkenness, councils making CCTV cameras a priority, police devoting more time to the problems, a ban on drinking in the street, and regular progress reports.

Wallingford Town Council owns the Boat House pub premises and has already had talks with Millhouse Inns, which runs it.

Andrew Jones, Millhouse's operations director, promised to cut down noise and said a 20-point plan had been agreed with district council environmental health officers.

Town Arms licensees Larry Hill and his daughter Joanne and owners Innspired plc said they would do everything to co-operate with the residents if they were told about the problems.

Residents from other parts of the town said there were similar problems in the areas round the kebab van and fish shop and around the Bullcroft.

Ch Supt Govier said: "We will work with the residents as well as we can under the restraints we have of very limited manpower."