A MEETING was called in Poulton this week after traders voiced concern about the trail of vandalism and damage left on their shop doorsteps by late night revellers in the town centre.

The latest spate of damage occurred at the weekend and involved a whole pane of glass being smashed at the Cobra Dress Agency, in Breck Road, and litter bins being thrown on to the railway track.

In the light of these incidents local ward councillor for the area, Harry Taylor, called an urgent private meeting for the traders to have their say at Poulton's Civic Centre yesterday (Wednesday).

During the meeting, which was attended by Wyre Council officials and Inspector Phil Anderton from Poulton police, traders asked for an increased police presence in the town centre and the installation of CCTV cameras between Friday night and Saturday morning to capture vandals in the act.

Prior to the meeting the owner of the Cobra Dress Agency, Rosilyn McGrath, told The Citizen what she was hoping to get out of the talks.

"I hope we will gain some more support, particularly from the police. Myself and other traders feel that they are being blinkered about Poulton and they should get out and talk to the traders and the public more.

"I have a petition in my shop and have already got five pages of other traders' and residents' signatures in favour of CCTV and I will be taking this to the meeting."

Another shopkeeper in Breck Road commented: "Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the meeting as it has been organised at such short notice, but I will be sending my petition along.

"I would like to make it clear that I am not objecting to the various nightclubs and wine bars in Poulton. What I am saying is that we need adequate policing to deal with the influx of night-time visitors they attract."

Councillor Harry Taylor commented: "I organised the meeting after members of the Chamber of Trade came to me with the concerns of late night vandalism in the town centre such as people urinating and being sick in their shop doorways.

"The traders were largely blaming this on the preponderance of pubs and night life in Poulton."

When asked how the meeting went he replied: "It was a very positive meeting and I believe everyone went away happy with all their points raised being answered.

"Poulton is one of the safest places on the Fylde and we only get the odd hooligan who disrupts the apple cart. We would appeal to all members of the community to volunteer to help us at the council, and the police, to keep Poulton safe. If either traders or residents could spare a couple of hours a week they could help out in a number of ways, such as by being 'specials' or wardens."

Police Inspector Phil Anderton was asked whether he thought it was necessary to have CCTV cameras installed in the centre. "We already have two mobile CCTV units that are deployed by the police to where they are needed," he said. "With regard to installing permanent cameras, that is a matter that the council would have to look at."

He added: "We are working as hard as we can and are doing some very good things at present with the community safety partnership."

Following the meeting Rosilyn McGrath said that she and the other traders were very pleased with how it had gone.

"It went very well and we all came out feeling very positive about it," she said. "They are listening and are aware of the problems we face and have assured us that they have plenty of things in the pipeline to help us out."