Gangs could be moved on by police in Cheltenham High Street
TROUBLEMAKERS who congregate in the High Street could be banned from the area for 24 hours as part of a police crackdown.
Officers in Cheltenham's town centre team want to introduce a dispersal order, giving them the power to tell intimidating groups to leave the area.
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Barbara Driver
Traders and residents will be asked for their opinions on the scheme, designed to combat anti-social behaviour.
If given the go ahead, police could ban anyone causing problems.
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The areas covered including St Mary's Churchyard, Jenner Gardens, Clarence Street and the High Street between Primary and Ambrose Street.
Perpetrators who don't follow their instructions risk being arrested. Councillor Barbara Driver (C, Lansdown) believes putting the dispersal order in place would act as a good deterrent.
She said: "It is just about trying to get through to young people especially that if they do misbehave then we can do something about it.
"It is a good thing to put in place for people to understand they really should behave. It is only fair on everybody else."
The dispersal order is part of a wider plan to revamp the area around St Mary's Church, making it a desirable area to visit – rather than one to avoid.
Mrs Driver added: "There is a committee set up working with the church to help make the churchyard a jewel in the town centre's crown.
"This is about seeing what we can do to make it more of a park for people to use.
"We are looking at what can be done to make the churchyard somewhere that people might want to go to relax or to meet.
"Sometimes when there are bunches of kids around, people feel intimidated, even when they are behaving themselves. A lot of people won't go through the churchyard at the moment."
Police want to use the orders for an initial period of six months.
Si Motala, police community support officer for the area, said: "We know that anti-social behaviour is a concern for local people and in our continuing work to address these issues one of the options may be a dispersal order.
"We feel it's really important to get the thoughts and opinions of all members of the community on this proposal and are keen to hear their views."
Brian Crosby, owner of West End Framing and Art in the High Street, is unsure of the plan.
He said: "I rarely have any problem but I am all for trying to raise the standard of the area as a whole. It is pretty rare for me to see any rowdy kids."
To have your say on the plans, call 101 or email Cheltenham. LPA.Communities@Gloucestershire.police.UK.
Comments
by gallopingbear
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:28PM
“Turn the hosepipe on em.”
by Haw_Haw
Monday, October 01 2012, 6:18PM
“I say types, His Lordship is a man of vision, and he can picture St Mary's as a very elegant part of town, don't you know.
You need to use the same device our Victorian and Edwardian forebears used to keep riff raff out of their areas.
Circle the church with shoulder height iron railings. Pricey, but think of it as an investment. Then as more money becomes available, iron railing off the outstanding land leaving just passage ways left. Result, no gangs, as there will be nowhere to congregate. Also, you can turn the dank borders into first class flower beds which will never be trampled on.
There you have it. It will cost, but it solves everything….
Tally ho !”
by Takeaway22
Monday, October 01 2012, 2:40PM
“I would love to see the Cheltenham 'gangs' come up against some of the inner city gangs. Our so called hard nuts would be but mere pussy cats!”
by MummyKeep
Monday, October 01 2012, 11:27AM
“Seeing as they are looking to regenerate the High Street, surely the developers could be encouraged to donate some railings to be put along the path ways to keep people away from the monuments and graves. Perhaps the the larger grassed area by the library could be left free...at least the litter could be contained in one area.
Apparently St Mary's is the oldest building in Cheltenham....surely something could be done to preserve this beautiful piece of Heritage?”
by Matt1006
Monday, October 01 2012, 10:17AM
“AndyPrestbury - no, sadly some people don't have any respect, and therefore don't see the problem with sitting on a gravestone. Anybody who challenged it would most probably get a mouthful of abuse in return, an empty beer can thrown in their direction, or worse.
I don't understand why the churchyard isn't closed off completely at night. It can be unpleasant walking through there on a bright day, so I'd certainly consider taking the long way round after dark. Some nice but study & unclimbable gates on the approaches would close it off, and then make sure the police arrest anybody seen within the churchyard when the gates are locked. It's a churchyard full of graves, not a public toilet / dosser's zone / quickie corner. Hopefully the proposed revamp will force the undesirables out of the area, although it needs to be a permanent thing, and not allow them to return after a few weeks / months.”
by AndyPrestbury
Monday, October 01 2012, 8:19AM
“A lot of people don't go into the churchyard because the alleyways that lead to it are litter strewn, filthy and stink of urine. The area in and around the churchyard needs to be kept clean and tidy before people will want to go anywhere near it. Plus why do people sit on the graves and monuments, do they have no respect at all?”