UPTON traders fear that underage drinking and anti-social behaviour on weekend evenings will drive tourists away and give the town a bad name.

They believe that incidents of teenagers drinking in pubs, in the Old Churchyard, and on the riverside on Friday and Saturday evenings are spiralling out of control and creating a threatening environment for residents and visitors alike.

On Tuesday evening (May 26) John and Christine Lear of the White Lion Hotel expressed their concerns to Upton Town Council.

The couple have been at the hotel for 12 years and say they have never witnessed scenes as bad as last Friday (May 22), when as many as 70 teenagers were causing trouble on the streets right outside their front door.

“I feel we are on the cusp of a major downturn in Upton. This last weekend was quite disgraceful,” said Mr Lear. “Alcohol is breeding a bit of a violent culture in this town and Upton is starting to look grubby after a busy weekend when we have all these people out.”

Mrs Lear added: “We have families stay at the hotel but after one of these nights we will never see them again and nor will Upton. Once you get a reputation as a rough town it is very hard to get rid of.”

Other residents have reported teenagers using foul and abusive language, urinating over the river terrace and indecently exposing themselves to passing boats.

Mr Lear believes children are getting alcohol from pubs and having it provided by their parents. He is calling for the police and the licensing authority, Malvern Hills District Council, to take action.

Malvern police inspector Clive Griffiths and MHDC street scene manager Gordon Morris attended Tuesday’s meeting.

Insp Griffiths said police are discussing evidence of underage drinking and the possibility of calling for licensing reviews at certain pubs.

Mr Morris said the council’s licensing officer would be visiting all pubs, off-licenses and supermarkets in the area.

Both believe that the introduction of a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO), giving police power to seize alcohol, would help tackle the problems.

“We have had similar problems in areas of Malvern and where these orders have been introduced we now have a lot less trouble,” said Insp Griffiths. “They give us the extra powers that we need.”

A DPPO would take about three months to introduce. Insp Griffiths assured councillors that there would be police in town on weekend evenings to tackle the problems in the short-term.

Peter Webb, chairman of Upton Tourism and Trade Association, believes the problems are harming the town and has written to MHDC chief executive Chris Bocock calling for action.

He would also welcome a DPPO.

“I think it would help, although if the police are not there then it doesn’t matter what powers they have,” he said. “I do think that we need a slightly increased police presence in the town.”