Sue Roodhouse speaks out on anti-social behaviour in Trinity Church Yard

At last night's Council meeting (21 July 2015) three of the Liberal Democrat councillors spoke out on anti-social behaviour in Trinity Church Yard (also known as St Andrews Gardens).

The Council was considering whether or not the police and Community Safety Wardens should be given the power to issue "on the spot" fines for drinking and disorderly behaviour.

Cllr Sue Roodhouse spoke about the impact of the behaviour on some of her electors living in Elsee Road with "drug taking, drinking, screaming and shouting" continuing into the early hours of the morning.

Cllr Noreen New also welcomed the proposal but highlighted her concern that the problem might be addressed in one locality but could well move on to affect other parts of town.

Cllr Marion Nash also welcomed the proposal but spoke of her concern that Rugby Council might only be addressing the surface problems without tackling the underlying causes.

Cllr Lisa Parker (Con) disagreed with Cllr Nash saying that the Council's staff would be trained to direct the people causing the nuisance to appropriate advice or as she put it "steer people to the right port". However the tories failed to address the main thrust of Cllr Nash's concerns. Some of the very services to which they said people should be directed were now facing closure.

Cllr Marion Nash said that whilst Rugby Borough Council was dealing with a specific issue raised by alcoholism and homelessness "… the County Council is proposing to reduce their work in improving frontline Housing Related Support services for disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The potential effect of the proposal is that the challenge of alcoholism and homelessness will be greater in the future, not less, with our work increased not reduced. The complex series of changes that are planned that will inevitably adversely affect many of the most vulnerable groups in our community and so potentially compound the current problems presented by alcoholics and the homeless. It is not credible that the county council's proposals will not impact the issues experienced locally and it can be assumed that we will be addressing a far greater issue should their proposals be implemented".

Cllr Nash was referring to changes threatened by the ruling conservative group on Warwickshire County Council - see http://rugby.lib.dm/a1Zz8 .