Open Letter: Antisocial Behaviour in Churchyard

24/11/2009

Dear Sir,

I was rather disgusted to review the Safety Partnership Strategy in the Kentish express on the 19th of November. It appears that there are significant inequalities in the priorities, including listing Antisocial Behaviour is a lesser priority over safe socialising within Ashford. This seems to be a way to promote developments within Ashford town centre such as the St Mary's Church Community Centre development and avoid responsibility for the damage the residents suffer within the town centre from antisocial behaviour. Ashford Borough council have yet to address the petition handed in by Jeremy Adby and residents of the churchyard regarding antisocial behaviour nearly 18 months ago. This is only escalating as the season becomes more "festive". It is abominable that peoples' property is damaged on a weekly basis in the churchyard and yet there is apparently no money available to put up further CCTV cameras or to invest in police patrolling the area, but there is financing available to convert St Mary's Church.

I also feel that the resolutions offered did not provide enough detail to be taken seriously and present themselves as a list of what I would expect public services to be doing already. This includes ensuring premises do not sell alcohol to underage children, for which we have a trading standards department, and confiscating alcohol from rowdy groups. I would like to see police and the council enforcing their rights to prevent licensees from selling alcohol to drunken people, with the threat to remove licences from pubs are particular problems. This is an increase of police patrols is the tip of the iceberg of what is needed to resolve antisocial behaviour in the town centre and within the surrounding boroughs.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats