Nuneaton shop owner says booze-fuelled trouble is 'unbearable'

[dutchman]

She raised her concerns in the council chamber



A Nuneaton shop owner has dubbed booze-fuelled trouble in the town centre as 'unbearable'. Nicola Ross who runs Ross Hair Studio said that they suffer daily anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

She claims that the situation has been made worse by more drink shops opening in the town and added that, as the nights draw in, she is 'worried' about safety when leaving the workplace. Speaking at a full council meeting, the business owner said: "As a concerned shop owner in town I have great concerns about the anti-social behaviour in our town centre.

"This is a daily occurrence and I would like to know what the action plan is to solve these issues. Since the new drink shop opened by the bus station, the situation is unbearable. This behaviour does not encourage footfall into our town and with the darker nights approaching, it is a worry when leaving the workplace on our own."

Councillor Clare Golby, cabinet member for housing and communities, said: "The council has 24 hour CCTV in place and a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which allows enforcement action to be taken when alcohol or other substances are consumed which result in ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour). We work in close partnership with the police who issue their own measures to address ASB and they will continue to do so also. We have and we will remove alcohol licences of establishments should that be necessary.

"Finally, I would like to point out that the largest retailers of alcohol in our town centre are most likely to be the long-established supermarkets. It would be helpful if you could contact the community safety team and raise the issues. Also, if you have got any references with contact with the police, pass them over and we will work on it for you."

The business owner went on to ask the cabinet member if there were any recordings of any arrests for ASB within the ring road this year and asked if it had 'got progressively worse' as the year has gone on. Cllr Golby said that the police hold information on arrest records.

The concern about trouble in the town centre comes just days after another salon owner, this time in Abbey Green, spoke about how a gang of trouble-makers are affecting her livelihood and business.