Open Letter: Churchyard Antisocial Behaviour

13.9.09

Dear Sirs,

With regards to your article on Antisocial Behaviour in the Church Yard, I would like to enquire that if Cllr Michael Claughton says “Everything possible is being done to resolve the issue”, why the council has not initiated the feasibility study requested by Mr Jeremy Adby at the Executive meeting in July.

Further to this, a petition was submitted to the council last year signed by residents and businesses within the Church Yard with regards to antisocial behaviour, the need for more lighting and the need for another cctv camera. This has not, as yet, been acted on.

I would also like to enquire why, if police regularly patrol the churchyard, did they not know for 10 hours there was broken glass in the street? Or, if they did notice, why did they not fulfil their civic duty and clean it up, or notify the council to do so.

If the pub is still selling alcohol to drunk persons, then they are in breach of the licensing activities, and in breach of their responsibility to borough tenants in pursuit of quiet enjoyment of their properties.

While I am in complete support of the St Mary's Church development, I do concur that the council are failing in serving the community in the area in relation to other matters.

Yours faithfully,

Ms Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats