Calls For Wexford Town Taskforce To Tackle Anti Social Behaviour

A Labour TD says a mass gathering of representative groups needs to be held in Wexford Town to discuss anti social behaviour issues.

George Lawlor says a new approach is needed to tackle vandalism and intimidation which is on the rise in the area.

The former Mayor was responding to a number of issues highlighted by South East Radio this week.

Deputy Lawlor says everyone needs to buy into a new way of discussing these issues:

"We need to establish a town centre taskforce made up of Gardai, Wexford Borough District, retailers, the Chamber of Commerce, community organisations and young services to come together.

"Not just on an once off basis and make a few recommendations but a structured monthly or bi-monthly meeting where we can discuss the issues.

"We can work to bring an end to this behaviour."

Deputy Lawlor also says national legislation will be needed to curb the number of vape shops in our town centres.

Residents in Wexford Town say there are too many retail units selling these products which stay open until all hours of the night.

At the March meeting of the Wexford borough district, councillors were informed by senior planners that as these units were designated as retail, there's very little the council can do to prevent more from opening up.

Deputy Lawlor says these shops are filling the empty units being left behind as more established shops close:

"Online shopping is killing our main streets because anything you can't buy online is thriving and that's nail bars and vape shops.

"We certainly have to look at introducing national legislation about the banning of vape shops.

"Especially those that seem to be open all hours of the evening. There's no need for that, it's not warranted, it's not wanted and it's certainly something that needs to be attacked."

There's also a call for GDPR rules to be loosened to make CCTV systems more effective in the town.

Deputy Lawlor feels there are too many hoops for Gardai to jump through as they try to investigate incidents in our urban areas.

He says the town has one of the finest camera systems in the country which was installed when he was the Mayor.

But the rigmarole to get the footage is now laughable.

"The screens are in Wexford Garda station and the cameras are right around the town.

"If an incident happens and the Gardai need to get the footage, they must contact the County Secretary of Wexford County Council to request the footage, who in turn has to contact a technical person to download that footage, who returns the CCTV disk to the council who then give it to Gardai.

"It's all this ridiculous GDPR situation so Gardai don't get to control what they see.

"The data controller is based in the council and it's not their fault but that's how the legislation works. A ridiculous situation"

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.