Anti-social behaviour 'on the wane' in Etherley, Teesdale Mercury

Anti-social behaviour 'on the wane' in Etherley

Jun 17, 2008

INCIDENTS of anti-social behaviour appear to be on the wane in a dale parish.

However, problems with car parking remain a regular complaint in Etherley and Toft Hill, parish councillors were told.

Just eight police incidents were reported to Etherley Parish Council's latest meeting for the previous month.

Members were told that although there had been some problems with youths causing a nuisance at Etherley Cricket Club, it had been a relatively quiet month.

Among the incidents reported were two thefts and two incidents of criminal damage. There were no burglaries and no robberies.

Parish council clerk, Alison Overfield,"The general feeling I get is that things have improved in the village.

"All the complaints we received at our annual general meeting this year were about car parking. The previous year, they were all about youth nuisance.

"Car parking is something we are going to have to keep an eye on."

A letter, drawn up by police and the parish council, has been circulated to residents in Toft Hill urging them not to park their cars fully on the pavement.

The letter warned householders that if there was not enough space for pedestrians to use the paths alongside the main A68, which runs through Toft Hill, the PCSOs who patrol the village would start issuing tickets, and in some cases had already done so.

However, parish councillors agreed that due to the narrow nature of the road and the lack of parking spaces for houses which front on to the A68, it was acceptable that two wheels could be parked on the pavement and two wheels off.

Parish council chairman, Cllr Paul Ryman, said this was a "common sense approach" to the problem. Members also heard that copies of the letter would also be circulated to residents in Low Etherley in an effort to improve the parking situation there.