Pub hit by thugs is told to clean up

Residents on the Jubilee Estate say that, since the Jubilee pub has been left to become an eyesore, it has turned into a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Councillor John Cutting, who represents the area on the town council, said the area around the pub is a disgrace.

He said: "The pub needs revamping. It is a disgrace on the outside.

"It has become an opportunity for vandalism, and there are a large number of youths gathering there - and it is intimidating and quite frightening for some of the elderly residents who live on that part of the estate."

Coun Cutting said there was a post in place for a closed circuit television camera, but so far no camera had been placed there.

He said: "It has been in place for quite some time, and it's high time that a camera was put there. It would make the residents feel safer.''

Sergeant Steve Ball, from Shildon Police, confirmed he had received several complaints about the pub, which is still open for business.

He said: "We have had a lot of complaints and we have put a lot of our resources down there and made arrests. But that is a short-term solution to the problem.

"The area needs to be cleaned up. The pub has become a signal for crime and disorder. It makes the area look unsafe and is attracting large groups of young people."

Sgt Ball said that he had contacted Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, and the company had promised to clean it up. But, so far, nothing had been done.

He added: "We have got a camera which is covering Hackworth Park, but the actual equipment is not powerful enough to monitor the Jubilee area. We have applied for funding to update the equipment."

A Punch Taverns spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a temporary tenant has been installed at the outlet, and we are in the process of recruiting a new licensee.

"The external graffiti will be removed shortly and, as part of our business development programme, we will be making a sizeable investment in the property."