ASB ‘driving business out of Stratford’
A BUSINESSMAN has revealed how he is now escorting his diners back to their cars to avoid the anti-social behaviour around Stratford’s Bancroft Gardens.
Drinkers, vandalism and even diners being sprayed with water pistols by boys on bikes have hit the Countess of Evesham river cruiser moored in the Bancroft basin.
The water pistol attack, which involved four boys on bikes who goaded the customers, targeted a group of 40 visitors who were in their 60s, 70s and 80s as they made their way back to their coach. They later posted on social media that they won’t be coming back to Stratford again.
Nick Longden, owner of the Countess of Evesham for 28 years, told the Herald: “When people have finished their dining experience with us both me and my staff offer to escort them back to their cars.
“I’ve even had members of the community volunteering to walk dinner guests back to their cars.
“Recently, I’ve had a door kicked in on the boat and a sign destroyed. There’s now widespread drinking and anti-social behaviour in Bancroft Gardens and it’s killing off the nighttime trade because there’s no police presence and people feel scared, so they don’t come out.
“The evenings are getting much quieter while the people who are acting like this know they can get away with it.
“I’m told the police station is open in Stratford but when I went there it wasn’t, so I reported the water pistol incident online and I’ve had a reference number but no one from the police has contacted me.”
Nick added that there’s no deterrent as “you can’t manhandle these kids because you’d be the one in the wrong.” And he asked: “What’s the protocol?”
“We’ve got a good community, but places are badly lit, there’s no police presence and people just don’t feel safe,” he continued. “I used to know the names of the police officers and their numbers but not anymore. Where are the police?
“We get reassurances from the police, but Stratford is not being policed whatever they say; meanwhile the perpetrators know nothing will happen.”
Nick invited Stratford MP Manuella Perteghella to discuss the issues.
“Manuella came down to the boat and we talked openly and fully about the incidents in Stratford, how they are affecting business, the abuse outside NatWest, the anti-social behaviour at the Greenway and at the canal,” he said. “The MP said she would raise peoples’ concerns with various organisations.”
Nick concluded: “We’ve handed over power to these people and it’s like they have a licence to do whatever they want. Stratford has a menacing feel about it now. You feel like you’re looking over your shoulder all the time and it’s deadening the town because people don’t trust it anymore.
“Police need to arrest people to protect people, especially as we have visitors from all over the world coming to one of the biggest tourist attractions outside London.”
