Call to curb begging and alcohol on streets
PEOPLE ARE ‘ABUSED OR APPROACHED FOR MONEY’ ON WEST STREET
CALLS have been made for West Street to be cleaned up when it comes to begging and the consumption of alcohol on street benches.
Cllr Frank Godfrey raised the matter at last week’s Joint Policing committee meeting, stating that there had been a big increase in begging on the main street and people were ill at ease walking across the street, never knowing when they are going to be approached.
He also said people were drinking in public and it was unacceptable.
Chief Superintendent Sean Ward said it was ‘not appropriate to see drinking on the street’ and wasn’t good for tourism.
He said they would appeal to licensees not to sell alcohol to underage people and to those that are already drunk.
‘But parents must take responsibility and know where their children are at all times,’ he added.
Cllr Paul Bell said that a seat across from The Tholsel seemed to be an area of interest for those drinking in public. ‘We have strong bylaws on this,’ he added.
He said people walking by were ‘abused or approached for money’ and it was happening in other public areas, including across from the school in Ballsgrove. ‘ The business community need to support us,’ he remarked.
As part of their campaign, the gardai undertook a series of test sales of alcohol to underage purchasers at 29 different local locations recently, with three premises now before the court.