Underage drinkers terrorise Old Town residents

People living along Church Street say they're disturbed during the evening and late at night by drunken teenagers banging on doors and smashing bottles and glasses near their homes.

Most of the troublemakers, say residents, congregate outside the Bell pub and St Peter's churchyard nearby.

Now they're calling for a crackdown with the help of police and the introduction of anti-drinking bylaws similar to those already used in Hastings and St Leonards.

One resident who didn't want to be named said the situation came to a head earlier this month when they woke to find broken glass and vomit outside their front door.

"It happens during the week but it gets particularly bad at weekends.

"It's revolting. We have even had to report people fighting.

"One of the people in the street had her door kicked in and then we get hammering at the door. It can be extremely disconcerting, but for old people on their own it must be very distressing.

"Church Street is a short cut to Sidley and that's part of the problem. For a so-called conservation area, it's the least conserved area I know."

Trevor Elliott, Rother District Secretary said the council hadn't felt a need for bylaws so far but didn't rule it out in future.

He added: "We keep the situation under review and should a need be demonstrated to us we would liaise with police with a view to taking a report to Cabinet for the authority to bring in controls."

Sgt Trisha Reeve-Fowkes said they need calls from residents at the time of the problem to catch troublemakers in the act.

"We've received one call about people drinking in the street and around the churchyard. The information will now be passed onto the beat officer who will try and ascertain exactly what the problem is.

"But we would urge residents to contact us as it's happening. In this particular case it was three days later. Without calls, we can't react."

Don Thiele, who took over as the landlord of the Bell pub a year ago, said he doesn't allow children into the pub unless accompanied by an adult

However, he said some underage drinkers have been caught using his pub's toilets.

"Cleaning staff found empty bottles that I don't even sell here. I've also called the police myself when I thought some of them were going to start a fight outside. It is an ongoing problem."

He added that he doubted whether people leaving his pub may have contributed to the problem.

"I don't allow any bottles or glasses to be taken outside and anyone caught doing so will be barred. But I'm not responsible for people once they leave my pub. I can't go out and police the streets."