South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2006 | March | 17
From the archive, first published Friday 17th Mar 2006.
POLICE and council chiefs are under pressure to clean up an Almondsbury lane which has become a haunt for drugs takers and sordid sexual "exhibitionists".
Fed up residents are demanding action to oust the undesirables who are plaguing secluded Old Aust Road.
They want an end to so-called "dogging" sessions in which couples in cars perform public sex shows - and also a crackdown on drug abusers and glue sniffers.
"There's hardly a day passes when I don't get e-mails about the situation down there," said Almondsbury councillor Sheila Cook.
"It's happening during daylight hours as well as at night and from what I've been told they're practically selling tickets.
"What consenting adults get up to in private is their own business but you can understand why residents have had enough of it. There are more young families living down there than there used to be and parents should be able to let their children wander down the lane without being confronted by this sort of thing.
"Obviously I'm most concerned about the drug taking. We certainly don't want children exposed to that.
"There's also a problem of litter - including drugs paraphernalia and condoms - as well as traffic safety issues."
Cllr Cook - chairman of Almondsbury Parish Council - said South Gloucestershire Council's community safety department had now been made aware of the problems.
"Apparently it's actually been going on for some years but it's getting worse," she said. "Police have been contacted but it's fair to say that residents have not exactly had a good response."
She said the council would be investigating possible solutions that could include installing a barrier and/or the use of mobile CCTV monitoring equipment.
"The nearest houses are only 20 or 30 yards away from where all this is going on," said Cllr Cook. "Sooner or later something will have to be done about it."
Sgt Kevin Thatcher said police had introduced extra patrols in the area.
"The local beat manager is also aware of the situation and patrols the area regularly," he said. "If anyone sees any suspicious activity in this area we would ask them to report it to us and provide us with as many details as possible."
Information should be passed via the police non-emergency number 0845 456 7000.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008