Hot Seat Jamie Wallis

I WELCOME news that the Dyfydol Drug rehabilitation service is moving out of Bridgend town centre within weeks.

I campaigned for the move after complaints were raised with me by businesses nearby who claimed that customers were put off because people who attend the centre were queuing in the street during the Covid lockdown.

I contacted the South Wales Police Commissioner and others and it has been agreed that the centre will be re-located to premises on Tremains Road hopefully in March. Although this centre will still be in the town, it will no longer be in the heart of the shopping area.

I recognise the importance of the work that is being carried out there and of the need to provide rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abusers.

I hope that the move will see a reduction in the number of complaints I have received about anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Business owners and their staff have told me that they are having to deal with drunks sleeping in their shop doorways in the mornings and of people openly abusing drugs in full view of the public on the streets.

I have also been in touch with Chief Supt Stephen Jones who is in charge of local policing. He said that police are acting to make Bridgend safe and said there has been a 25% reduction in overall crime compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2019 to 2020. This is across nearly all crime types including violence and drugs. He also said they had seen a 52.1% reduction antisocial behaviour.

I would urge everyone who is affected by this issue to contact the police. They can only deal with a problem if they know it exists. Once these incidents are flagged up, police will be able to focus their resources to deal with them.

I will be monitoring what’s happening in the town centre especially once the Dyfodol Centre has moved so please let me know as well.