Letter to Editor: Time to get tough on street drinking in Harlow
Politics / Fri 14th Jul 2023 at 08:22am
Dear Editor,
I WOULD like to raise the issue of street drinking. Throughout the town in various hatches, shopping areas and even the town centre there is a clear and present problem with people (often large groups) drinking in public places.
It is my understanding that there are prohibited areas in operation at the High, namely the Market Square and yet to date not one single person has been fined. I am the publican for the Purple Emperor and have had this issue in Burgoyne Hatch of which we have been trying get resolved for over a year now. I have spoken with other publicans in Harlow who are also experiencing similar problems.
The problems are that we as licensed premises get complaints from the public even though we haven’t provided the alcohol. These complaints include:- Litter in the area of beer cans, noise, urinating in public, general intimidation and sexual intimidation to name just a few of the complaints we have received. The frustration for us and other establishments is whilst we aren’t the cause, our businesses are perceived to be at fault and in turn puts people off from coming to our establishments.
Last Saturday evening (8th July), a group of people had decided to drink publicly within the pub carpark, our customers our beer garden complained and we politely ask the group to leave. The result ended up with threats of violence and myself being spat at multiple times.
Licensed premises (Pubs) around the town have had enough, the general public in Harlow have had enough and yet nothing seems to be being addressed, put in place or enforced to stop this issue and yet we are being told that anti social behaviour is on the decline.
Kindest regards
Richard Holloway
Ray
2023-07-14 09:28:43
Well said Rich.
Son of Old Man River
2023-07-14 09:31:03
Harlow Council used to work with Pubs and Police through Pubwatch to address such issues. Has this partnership approach ceased? The Pubwatch aims are: The objectives of groups are: - to tackle and prevent anti social behaviour and criminal activity - promote safe drinking environments for customers and secure working environments for staff - improve communication and sharing information between licensees
Mrs day
2023-07-14 12:14:27
We live in latton hall close the bungalows at back facing cycle track do not have our windows open because of people in cycle track in the bushes drinking shouting and screaming don’t feel safe but nothing is done to move these people on and when old people walk through we feel intimidated have reported to Harlow council not heard anything yet
Elrico
2023-07-14 13:09:49
Market Square, any time of day........
Jasper
2023-07-14 13:47:30
Maybe if the corner shop didn't sell to the drunks they wouldn't gather there. A police presence and a few arrests would be nice. They could sort out the dealers as well.
Jay Orsepp
2023-07-14 14:30:18
People always say we need more police, we need more personal responsibility, yada yada. The truth however is that until you address the root underlying socioeconomic causes of antisocial behaviour and crime, nothing will change. If you don't believe me, just look at all the countries like Denmark and South Korea where alcohol is widely enjoyed and yet the violent crime rate is significantly lower. Why is it that their people can go out and get drunk at a local venue without spitting on anybody or getting violent, and yet so many brits seem to be incapable of this? The answer is that they have healthier societies with lower levels of wealth inequality, which is the number one cause of violent crime.
Jean
2023-07-14 15:19:54
Agreed men are drinking on the benches in Burgoyne Hatch at 8 in the morning. This s not the atmosphere for children to walk to school in and having to listen to men swearing and shouting in various languages. The shop in Burgoyne Hatch does not sell single tins of drink as I have asked them about this .
Disappointed Resident
2023-07-14 15:33:33
Needed to pop into Primark on Sunday, so quickly parked in the post office car park In that short walk we came across a couple having intercourse, a group of street drinkers and a man passed out in a flower bed - he was still there on the walk back. This is all at 3 o’clock in the afternoon??? It has never been so bad in all the 20 years we’ve lived here. That end of town is a complete eyesore and practically a no go area. We keep being promised regeneration , but nothing ever materializes. It’s not a place you’d want to bring up a family anymore.
Cp
2023-07-14 20:46:22
OMG!! the goings on in these comments is so bad,harlow has turned into a town where everyone and anyone comes here to just do whatever they want when they want and to many people abusing our town. Harlow should have been left how it was built in thel first place,witg just a goid amount if people,loads of great shops, a good market, the list is endless what we used to have here. Plenty of green spaces, we would never see a car/ van parking on the pavement,no wheelie bins in thecentre of the pavements, no groups of men sitting everywhere drinking from morning till night,not much crime, but all this regeneration dont mean anything because that means many many more people and many many more cars/vans and less and less lovely natural green spaces to go and relax and escape from it all. We will be living like sardines in a tin and cars will be parking absolutely everywhere. Its a total disaster niw and it is going to get so much worse. Harlow born and bred over 50 years ago,my hometown that i always loved and was proud of.WAS!!!!
Pedro
2023-07-14 20:51:46
The police and local authorities will react quicker to some "hurty" words on social media than actually enforcing the prohibited drinking rules and dealing with proper antisocial behaviour.
Petch
2023-07-14 22:05:51
I thought your wife was the licensee and you did odd jobs
Reg
2023-07-14 22:18:23
Time to get tough on pubs Turing a blind eye to fag ends everywhere and trade vans dumped in residential parking and on green areas all weekend.
Lou
2023-07-14 22:40:55
Groups of men drinking on the cycle tracks 11am on a Sunday very intimidating.
Johny bravo
2023-07-15 07:10:36
"Purple Emperor" both inside and next to the pub, drugs are sold every day, not only that, the owner is even friends with dealers, it doesn't bother anyone, even though children go to school and from school, everyone looks at it, everyone turns a blind eye.... ..
Lanks
2023-07-15 17:00:09
This is wack
Purple Emperor
2023-07-16 20:35:09
Johny Bravo, Reg, and Petch, Seriously! Your comments are nothing to do with the letter to the editor. You seem to have taken the stance of being safe behind your keyboards in a vain attempt to assassinate my wife and I and our business. I invite you all three of you to the Purple Emperor to discuss and show you the steps being taken on a daily basis to ensure that we are the best community pub in Harlow. Kindest regards Richard Holloway
Harlow Lassy
2023-07-16 23:52:09
Richard, you are not the licensee but your wife is. Surely you need to be more mindful of saying you are? Also, did you do anything to agivate these people to spit? Just a question as people don't randomly spit even if they have been drinking? Maybe it was your tone....need to stop dancing with those hoovers at night
Purple Emperor
2023-07-17 07:04:37
Harlow Lassy, Please feel free to come and inspected the pub licence. It's on the wall for all to see, and yes I am the Licence holder. Regards Richard
Sue
2023-07-19 12:39:39
why are my comments deleted?
Sue
2023-07-19 15:59:42
Richard. don't be an idiot everyone in the neighborhood knows who sells drugs in your pub we hope someone will take an interest in it eventually
20 Comments for Letter to Editor: Time to get tough on street drinking in Harlow: