Rise in street drinker yobs

Louts swigging cans of beer and leering at passers-by has become a common sight at any time of the day, say residents and traders who are now calling for an alcohol ban.

The proposal, which will mean a ban on drinking in the street, will go before Stourbridge Area Committee at a meeting next month.

If approved it will see boozing outlawed in the High Street, Talbot Street, Cross Walks, Cemetery Road and Pedmore Road.

In a letter to the area committee, Lye beat bobby Pc Les Mannerson said the favourite spots for drinkers was outside Christ Church, on a wall outside the library and in the new pocket park.

Traders have also complained about men and women sitting drinking in their doorways and on steps.

He said: "Over the past 12 months Lye High Street has become more popular for alcohol consumption with many shop traders reporting to me on a daily basis that mostly male youths are walking up and down the street drinking from cans and this has become intimidating to the customers who use Lye for there shopping."

He added: "I can identify through my local knowledge of the town over the past eight years the persons who are now drinking on a regular basis are adult males and some females and again most of them are class A heroin users."

One trader, who did not want to be named, said: "We have got people coming from all over the country to our shop and then they come into the High Street and are faced with all these people on drink and drugs sitting on the benches swearing away, it is not the best impression."

Stourbridge Area Committee meets at Hob Green Primary School, Hob Green Road, Pedmore, on Monday March 12 at 7pm.

By Ben Lammas