Loos idea is pooh-poohed

NEW toilets have been suggested as a way of dealing with problems associated with people behaving anti-socially near a cash machine near Great Yarmouth seafront.

Insp Nick Cheshire, of South Yarmouth Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), told a meeting of South Yarmouth Key Individual Network (KIN) that loos could be installed near the Barclays cash machine in Trafalgar Road to prevent people from urinating in the street.

But the idea has had a lukewarm response from B&B owners in the area who say they are being plagued by drinkers congregating outside the machine in the early hours at weekends making noise, urinating in the street and leaving a trail of smashed bottles.

Pauline Davis, owner of The Warren guesthouse, said the toilets would have to be placed on the seafront as they would look inappropriate in an area that was grassy and “green”, such as near the machine.

She added: “It depends what they mean by nearby. I think they would have to be on the seafront, but if they are intended for people coming out of pubs and clubs, where there are toilets anyway, I can't see how a loo would make any difference at all.”

Another idea raised at Monday's KIN meeting was to position a mobile CCTV unit close to the cash machine to act as a deterrent - but without any recording being made.

But Mrs Davis said: “Without a film in, it would be a waste of time. I think it is almost a red rag to a bull, but it would be useful as a deterrent if it was there over one weekend.”

In October, Mrs Davis and fellow guesthouse owner Alan Haley of The Courtyard, called for the cash machine to be closed overnight because they feared the late night rowdiness from people spilling out of clubs at 2am was affecting their trade.

They have met with Barclays representatives who pledged to stick signs in the bank's window warning customers not to behave anti-socially, but the bank has so far refused to close the machine between 11pm and 6am.