Public meeting in Saintfield to discuss anti-social behaviour

Public meeting in Saintfield to discuss anti-social behaviour

17 July 2019

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Saintfield this evening to discuss increasing trouble in various parts of the town.

Residents are being invited to attend the event at the new Saintfield community centre at the Belfast Road at 7pm.

Tonight’s meeting has been organised by Rowallane councillor Patrick Brown and the Saintfield Development Association and follows unruly behaviour at various locations across the town centre over recent weeks.

There have been reports of trouble at the Downpatrick Street car park, the Demesne sports pitches, Fair Green, Main Street, Comber Street, New Line and Old Mill areas.

Windows in a number of homes have been smashed by stone-throwing youths while a number of picturesque flowerbeds have been damaged. 

Sharp pieces of broken glass have also been scattered across the town’s cricket and hockey pitches, while a number of derelict properties were broken into.

Cllr Brown said the meeting is a direct response to escalating trouble in Saintfield over recent weeks and he hopes residents will attend to air their views.

Representatives from a number of statutory agencies have also been invited to attend to discuss what services or support mechanisms are in place to help tackle the increasing trouble.

Cllr Brown said the meeting is open to everyone, encouraging residents who have been affected by the recent trouble to attend.

“I am keen to see people from the Comber Street, New Line and Old Mill areas which have been most affected by anti-social behaviour recently,” he said. “The more people that attend, the better our chances of sorting this problem out before it gets any worse. 

“I have been working alongside the Saintfield Development Association to organise the meeting given the increasing concern at the increase in anti-social behaviour in various parts of the town.”

A spokesperson for the development group said the organisation believes the increased trouble may be not only due to a lack of amenities to keep the young people engaged, but the noticeable lack of a police presence, especially in the evenings.

Councillor Billy Walker has commended Cllr Brown and the Saintfield Development Association for organising tonight’s meeting in the wake of increasing concern around anti-social behaviour.

While unable to attend tonight’s meeting as he is on holiday, Cllr Walker said he recognises the need to address an issue which many people are particularly concerned about.

“Anti-social behaviour is a scourge in many towns and villages across the district and I would encourage people to attend tonight’s meeting as it is their chance to make their concerns known to representatives from a number of statutory agencies. Anti-social behaviour in Saintfield must stop.”