Extra CCTV and lighting could be put up in part of Spalding where businesses say drug dealing is a regular occurrence.
The Spalding Business Improvement District (BID) is looking at funding the extra cameras and provisions in Pied Calf Yard and Chapel Lane, its manager Sarah Fletcher told a meeting of Spalding Town Forum on Tuesday night (October 20).
She told the meeting that it would hopefully lead to a decrease in anti-social behaviour in an area of the town around Hall Place which has become notorious for it.
Ms Fletcher said: “We’re working with the council and BID are looking to pay for additional CCTV in Pied Calf Yard and Chapel Lane as that’s where some of the biggest drug deals are happening right now.
“We have businesses seeing that daily but unfortunately by the time the police arrive it is too late and its gone.
“We need the CCTV to get more evidence and we’re looking at better lighting in that area.”
Ms Fletcher was responding to a question from Coun Gary Taylor on the concerns over street drinking in the town.
“The street wardens we have employed are particularly targeting places like Hall Place and the river bank,” she responded. “They are generally finding that the people who are sat at the river bank a lot more accepting and respectful and say ‘yes, ok, I’ll move on’.
“The group in and around Hall Place, we all know have been particularly difficult and challenging for a very long time.
“I think we would all welcome a big campaign that would change that area
“About a year ago I did impact statements with some of the businesses there and it was quite harrowing to hear from some of the staff.
They are locking their door up while someone is weeing up the door We’ve had anti-social behaviour to some of the staff which has been very unpleasant and unnecessary.
“If you can imagine being in a solicitor’s talking about the death of a loved or in a beauty room paying for expensive treatments and relaxing you do not need to hear all of that
“People say ‘can you not just deal with it?’ In the end it’s the police powers that will be the ones to properly deal with it, but you have to have sufficient evidence.”
