Residents' anger at 'lawless' resort

Over 4,500 Colwyn Bay residents signed the petition

Residents of a north Wales seaside resort have started a petition demanding better policing and a clampdown on anti-social behaviour.

More than 4,500 residents of Colwyn Bay have signed the petition calling on police to crack down on vandals, drunks, drug addicts and prostitutes.

They are also calling for a tougher line when offenders appear before the courts.

Local businessman Roger Taylor, one of those behind the petition, said people living in the town are fed up with others' anti-social behaviour.

He said the behaviour, which he claimed was largely caused by incomers to the town, caused fear and anger among residents and was even harming business.

Bobbies

"We want to see a return by the police to traditional forms of policing," said Mr Taylor.

"We want to see more bobbies on the beat."

"We are not talking about responding to crime, but preventing crime," added Mr Taylor.

Local town councillor Gwyn Hughes said : "Time and time again what we are seeing is a disproportionate minority who are hell-bent on destroying the quality of life in general."

The petition is to be sent to both North Wales Police and Conwy Council.

Social problems

In many seaside towns, former guesthouses and hotels have been converted on a huge scale into flats and bedsits.

Once prosperous resorts like Colwyn Bay have been transformed, with some landlords being accused of encouraging people from deprived inner city areas to move to the coast.

Councils like Conwy have found themselves with growing social problems as a result.

They range from increased pressures on schools - which are having to deal with an influx of pupils with behavioural problems - to rising crime, often linked to drugs problems.