COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Drunken yobs are running riot in Leamington town centre at weekends because there are not enough police on the streets to control them.



So say residents in Oxford Street who are fighting plans to see the former Ocean Reef bar re-opened, and argue it should not be granted a licence at a time when police resources were already stretched to the limit on Friday and Saturday nights - a claim police chiefs deny. Warwick District Council Licensing Panel was set to consider the application as we went to press yesterday (Wednesday).

Gary Blundell and his girlfriend, who live in a flat next door to the premises, say life was 'hell on earth' before Ocean Reef closed last summer.

The 54-year-old businessman listed a catalogue of yob behaviour while the bar was open, including the taking and selling of drugs in the street, urinating and vomiting in doorways, acts of lewd and sexual behaviour, fighting, swearing and threatening behaviour, criminal damage and loud noise.

Mr Blundell, a father of three grown-up children, said: "For such a beautiful town, Leamington has gained a reputation for late night drink and drug-related violence that should put it to shame.

"Clearly with police resources stretched almost beyond breaking point, to give the green light to yet another bar in the town, especially one with such a chequered history, would not just be misguided but downright irresponsible."

And Nigel Heron who runs the a kitchens and bathroom showroom next door is equally opposed to the bar re-opening.

He said: "Every morning after the premises was opened the night before I can guarantee the area around would be a disgrace - rubbish, cigarette ends, vomit, and on the odd occasion blood."

But Warwickshire Police denied there was a shortage of police on patrol at weekends.

A spokeswoman said a new policing model had been introduced last May, in response to people wanting more local contact with officers, which offered greater flexibility.

She said: "The new model provides more resilient and flexible police resources to attend and investigate crime, and ensures more of our workforce are on duty at any given time.

"In developing the new policing model the need to maintain current response times was paramount and these will be closely monitored to ensure we continue to deliver the best service possible."

Rowdy bar is given licence for fresh start under new rules

EVEN the owners of a former town centre bar admitted they were horrified about what had gone on there over the previous four years.

Neighbours had objected to a new alcohol and entertainments licence being granted to the former Ocean bar in Oxford Street, Leamington, which they described as like living next to “hell on earth.”

But Warwick District Council’s licensing panel decided they would grant a new “strictly-regulated” licence on the grounds that environmental health officers would install a noise-limiting device and neighbours with bedrooms next to the former dance floor would have an emergency number to ring.

There would also be a new landlord or landlady who would have to answer directly to the owners of the premises, wallpaper suppliers S.J. Dixon (Holdings) Ltd.

In future any entertainment would stop at 11pm and no drinks served after midnight. Dixon’s company secretary Colin Aston, who attended the hearing at the town hall, told residents who had flats in the same building that it was the first time he had heard of all the problems of rowdy, anti-social behaviour and was “horrified.”

He explained that originally the building, which had grown too small for the paint and wallpaper business, had been an up-market tapas bar.

But some four years ago the leasee had sold the operating licence to company called Lylemere Ltd and legally they had little control over what happened.

They only regained control in August last year after the business collapsed.

Residents Gary Blundell and Sandra Holland objected to the new licence on the grounds of the fights, threatening behaviour and ear-splitting music they had to endure which could go on until 3am.

Mr Blundell said: “It was so loud that pictures literally bounced on the wall.”

John and Diana Hain, who 20 years ago bought a flat in the street for their son, told the hearing: “The bar is surrounded by party-walls to the immediate flats and a maisonette.

“The noise from the bar reverberates through the adjoining bedrooms and was hell on earth for those wanting to sleep.”

After nearly a year of peace, none of the neighbours were happy about the new alcohol licence being granted but Mr Blundell said: “At least there are now controls on it and if the conditions aren’t kept we can complain directly to environmental health officers.”

Mrs Hain said complaints made in the past directly to door staff had met with nothing but the music being turned up even louder.

She said: “We believe there are already too many bars and clubs in the middle of town and don’t believe this location will appeal to the more mature drinker. It will have to play music because people won’t go there to play poker or tiddlywinks.”