Call for better street lighting to make Blackpool town centre safe after vandalism at Sainsbury's and The Hive

Rough sleepers using shop doorways as public toilets and a crime spree which has seen shop windows smashed have sparked calls to boost safety in Blackpool town centre.

Conservative councillor Gerard Walsh said he had been contacted by traders who had been victims of anti-social behaviour, and warned there were ‘no-go zones’ in the town centre.Addressing a meeting of the full council, he called for a review of street lighting and questioned whether the town’s recently upgraded £2m CCTV system was being used effectively to tackle crime.

Coun Walsh said: “I have been contacted by prominent local businesses who have been reporting ongoing levels of anti-social behaviour in and around Clifton Street and Market Street. Business owners are worried inadequate street lighting is contributing to the number of rough sleepers using shop doorways as a place to congregate, sleep and in some instances use as a public toilet.”

He added this included employees sometimes having to clean up human waste left in doorways. Coun Walsh added: “Then there is the perception around public safety that poorly lit areas are a magnet for those with criminal intentions. Basically, we are creating no-go zones in the town centre when we should as a council be doing everything we can to increase footfall for residents and visitors alike.”

He also raised concerns about the number of shop windows recently smashed, including at the Hive Cafe on Church Street where four panes of glass were damaged last month. There have been reports of similar vandalism on Clifton Street, while Sainsbury’s on Talbot Road has also had glass windows smashed.

Coun Walsh added: “Given by what seems to be ongoing issues where commercial shop windows are being smashed on a somewhat regular basis, ie Sainsbury’s, the former Debenhams site, Savers and more recently the Hive can the cabinet member confirm the CCTV is being used effectively when trying to catch the perpetrators of this type of crime.”

Coun Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, said there were plans to upgrade street lighting across the town. She said there were “no no-go areas” in the town centre and the council was taking legal action against problematic rough sleepers. She added: “I cannot comment on how the police use CCTV evidence but I do know we have a very good system and it is being expanded.”