Businesses in Beeston have been speaking out about issues in the town after local officials raised concerns about anti-social behaviour. The operations manager of a bar on Station Road in Beeston, near the cinema and tram stop, said groups of youths have been seen hanging around the area but have not been 'destructive'. Other business owners in the town centre have said they have not seen any problems at all.
Nottinghamshire Police recently issues a statement following a spate of anti-social behaviour taking place around The ARC Cinema and on Station Road in Beeston. Representatives of the force and Broxtowe Borough Council have met to discuss concerns they say have been raised, about intimidating behaviour, loud noise and disruption.
The issue is said to have affected local businesses in the area. The openings manager of the newly opened bar The Beeston Social, on Station Road and next to the cinema, said he has seen groups outside of the bar already, but they've not caused the venue any problems.
Ryan Chantler said: "There's been a little bit of it going on, we've seen groups of youths outside but luckily we're an over-18 bar, so we can turn those kind of people away if they're not here with an adult. I've seen them hang around the front of the venue, and I've seen them doing wheelies on bikes up and down the front too.
"We are quite new, but we've managed to keep on top of things and they haven't been destructive to us. With us being a late night bar, we're used to dealing with issues in general.
"The opening of the bar has been splendid, we've been so much busier than we first thought we were going to be. Every day something new comes up, but it's going very well - we've been full from 10.30am some days with people wanting to come in and enjoy a coffee."
But business owners situated in the heart of Beeston town centre have said they have not noticed any problems. They said it's more to do with the cinema and tram stop area, and that trouble does not come into the centre from their experience.
Rachel Hunt, 40, owner of The Flower Barrow in the town centre, said: "I've not been aware of any problems, we've heard nothing from any of our customers either. I think it's more the cinema end where people are causing trouble.
"It must be to do with the kids when they're out of school. We've had to move a little bit down the centre because of works taking place on the old Argos store."
Matt Whittle, 43, owner of Meat 4 U on High Road, said: "The first I saw of any problems was on Facebook. It's not impacted us though and we've not seen anything.
"We close at 4pm usually, and I take it the groups would not be around until well after then. It's normally okay from my experience around here though, the local lot are really good."
Broxtowe Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community safety Councillor Richard MacRae has previously said large numbers of youngsters are believed to be travelling from outside of the town and getting off at the Station Road tram stop. The leader of the local authority has blasted the reported behaviour as "disappointing".
Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, Labour councillor Milan Radulovic, said: "The council is proactively working with partners including the police, local businesses and local councillors to tackle these issues. Beeston is booming and we have been really pleased with the reaction to the new businesses which have opened in the square.
"It's really disappointing and frustrating that a very small number of people are spoiling this for everyone else with their behaviour."
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