Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, insists Welshpool mayor

Councillor Steve Kaye has called out the town's yobs and troublemakers after figures from an evidence gathering exercise on anti-social behaviour in the town revealed there had been 19 instances in 18 days.

Last month, Welshpool Town Council ran a two-week consultation period with residents, which involved them manning a hotline number, monitoring a website and checking an incident book where anti-social behaviour was reported.

Councillor Kaye said at least one case of loutish behaviour a day was "dragging a good town down".

The findings also revealed that the majority of the offences reported – almost 80 per cent –were alcohol related. Councillor Kaye said: "These figures are stark, and they're not acceptable but it backs up what we've been saying all along, that there is a problem with alcohol related anti-social behaviour and the police need to be doing something about it.

"It gives the complete wrong impression of Welshpool and especially this time of year when it's the tourist season, it isn't the name we want for the town." Members of Welshpool Town Council have campaigned for a Designated Public Place Order, renamed a People and Place Order, to restrict drinking in the town.

Bad language and shouting was the second most common offence during the consultation period. While the majority of offences were reported as taking place on Berriew Street car park and near to the canal.

Councillor Kaye said because of the high response from the public, the phone line will remain open despite the consultation closing to allay residents' concerns and ensure police remain on top of the situation in the town.

In recent months, the Mid Wales town has been blighted by problems with drinking in the streets, as well as a discovery of needles and drug paraphernalia dumped near the Scansis play area in Oldford estate.

Residents can report neighbourhood issues confidentially to the town council, by using the hotline number (01938) 554433, and information can then be passed to police using the non-emergency 101 number.