CLLR. MALCOLM Byrne has warned that if tough action is not taken against small groups engaged in anti-social and criminal behaviour in the Courtown/Riverchapel area that North Wexford will experience problems spiralling out of control.

He fears that a gang culture will develop and that insufficient Garda and State resources were being applied to tackle existing problems.

“Courtown/Riverchapel is a lovely area and the overwhelming majority of people there want to build their community, but there is a rough element that are causing problems and all the energies of the State, working with the community, need to be applied to tackle those who want to cause trouble,” said Cllr. Byrne.

He is critical of plans to downgrade Gorey Garda Station, and the failure of the Gardaí to allocate additional resources to the Courtown area, despite its population more than tripling since the 1990s.

Cllr. Byrne believes, “We cannot be silent about this. We’ve got to speak out for the ordinary decent citizens who want to build their area. They should not be afraid of being able to go about their business.”

Cllr. Byrne said that many private landlords need to take more responsibility as to whom they rent out their properties and urged residents to set up neighbourhood watch schemes to help develop their neighbourhoods.

He pointed out that a lot of the problems were due to poor planning.

Cllr. Byrne was critical of the continual delays of Wexford County Council to prepare the new Riverchapel/Courtown area plan, but he has been assured that once the new County Development Plan is adopted in the coming weeks, that the Riverchapel/Courtown plan is next.

Full story in this week’s edition of THE GOREY ECHO.