2/5/2008

Local News

Police meeting aims to resurrect PubWatch

Police have called a meeting about Yateley and Blackwater PubWatch on Tuesday.

All landlords involved in the scheme, set up in January 2007, have been invited to discuss the way forward as concerns have been raised that it has proved to be unsuccessful.

Sean Dean, vice-chairman of the scheme and landlord of the Dog and Partridge in Reading Road in Yateley, said: “Around July last year, the PubWatch died out.

“We started off meeting once a month, then this reduced to once every two months as they were badly organised and there was not enough going on to meet more regularly.”

PubWatch is a scheme initiated by the police to encourage places with an alcohol licence to work in partnership to reduce antisocial behaviour caused by rowdy customers.

Landlords and employees are encouraged to inform other establishments in the area of any potential trouble heading their way or the barring of customers.

Regular meetings between landlords were initiated for the Yateley and Blackwater PubWatch, but disorganisation gradually saw it disintegrate.

Mr Dean told the News: “When it first started everyone was enthusiastic but people lost a bit of interest in it.

“Some people would turn up to the meetings a week early, but when the actual meeting was scheduled about half of the landlords turned up.

“There were probably too many pubs involved in it for it to work.”

“I think the PubWatch is a good thing. Communication between the pubs is always good.

“I do hear that certain pubs have a lot of trouble but our pub does not because we have older customers ranging between 25 to 60 years old.”

Mr Dean said the PubWatch scheme made people think twice about getting involved in trouble.

When the PubWatch was in effect it had a strict policy that if anyone got barred from a pub for a matter of serious concern then that person would be barred from all pubs in the area.

“If Blackwater had their own watch and Yateley had their own then there would not be a problem,” added Mr Dean.

“There are too many pubs involved and there is a lack of communication.”

William Upton, landlord of the Crown and Cushion, in Minley Road, Blackwater, said: “As far as I am aware, there aren’t that many pubs in Blackwater.

“I don’t see how separating Yateley would work.

“Although we serve alcohol, we close early.

“Food is our main source of income here and we mainly cater for local people so trouble is not a issue here, but I think it is a good idea.”

Inspector Louise Clancy, from the police’s Safer Streets Team, said: “We have been trying to establish a PubWatch scheme in Yateley for the past two years, however we have not had enough support to keep it running.

“A meeting is being held on Tuesday to try to resurrect the scheme in Yateley and another meeting is being arranged in Blackwater.

“We know from our successful schemes in other areas such as Fleet and Aldershot that is a really good way to forge links between the local police and the licensees.

“By working together and sharing information we can make the area a safe, secure and friendly environment for customers and staff.”

Chairman of the PubWatch and landlord of the Royal Oak, in Reading Road, Yateley, Marcus Fagan, said: “Every landlord of pubs in the area have been invited to attend by the police.

“I think the attendance at the meeting will demonstrate a lot.”

First printed in: Yateley News and Mail