Leamington
'Not enough police' to stop drunken louts

Buy photos » Ocean Bar on Oxford Street looks set to re-open despite concerns from local residents. Picture by Jon Mullis 03.012.002.leam.jm1

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 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 Bar 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."