Teenagers cause trouble

Teenagers cause trouble

13 June 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

TEENAGERS in Crossgar have left a huge amount of litter during a second weekend of anti-social behaviour.

The area was strewn with litter on Monday morning which included paper used to wrap hot food, empty cans and bottles and discarded ketchup containers.

The previous weekend, young people pelted cars and homes in the area with eggs, flour and water balloons during a minor disturbance.

Crossgar councillor Terry Andrews is concerned at the latest incident and believes that it’s not just local teenagers who are responsible.

He said young people from outside Crossgar congregate at the village square and are as much too blame for what’s been happening recently.

“The square is a magnet for young people to congregate but it’s my understanding that not all the troublemakers are local,” declared Councillor Andrews.

The local politician contacted Down Council officials on Monday to have the area cleaned and hopes that the night-time deployment of local authority enforcement officers in the near future will see them visiting Crossgar.

He believes the fact council staff have the power to issue fines for people who litter may encourage teenagers to move away from the square.

“The vast majority of young people in Crossgar are model citizens. They do not cause trouble and have great respect for their village. Sadly, the same can’t be said for some others,” continued Councillor Andrews.

“The anti-social activity which has come to the surface over the past two weekends must stop. People have had enough and want these disturbances to end.”

Councillor Andrews said he wonders what the parents of the young people responsible for anti-social behaviour in the village would think if the trouble was unfolding outside their front doors.