A BEAMINSTER councillor has called for the town to employ its own sheriff after more complaints about rowdy behaviour.

Coun John Spooner made the suggestion after town resident Peter Culver once again hit out against underage drinkers running amok in the towns playing fields.

Mr Culver said at Beaminster Town Councils meeting on Monday that youngsters had burned a picnic table and a beech tree.

He called for urgent action to control their behaviour.

Coun Gilbert Berry agreed: I really think things have to be brought to a head somehow. This cannot go on. Mr Culver cant be coming up every month and making these points.

Coun Berry said he thought it was the youth clubs responsibility to do something about it.

Council chairman Janet Page said the youth club was not even open at the moment and the behaviour of the children outside the club was not its responsibility.

Coun Christopher Turner pointed out that local police had a large area to cover and it was not always easy to have somebody when they were needed.

He said councillors should be in a position to do take note of what was happening in the town.

Coun John Spooner said he knew exactly what was happening. On Friday 8th of August about 20 or 30 youths of both sexes were outside the bank, it was impossible to walk past them. At least two young ladies were intoxicated and sitting in the road. We want a police presence in the town V a real one not in a motor vehicle V what we used to have, a patrolling beat officer. If they say no, in which case we shall have to buy a sheriff.

Who supplies these children with the drink? Somewhere there are adults who are buying it for them, he said.

Coun Berry suggested a meeting between the youth club, the council and police as a matter of priority V but the main thrust should be to the parents, he said.

Coun Doug Beazer said they were not asking for a police presence seven days a week, 24 hours a day but the odd, infrequent foot patrol to try to do something about the problems in the playing fields.

Coun Theo Langton said There is a lack of respect and understanding on both levels, both ways. We dont understand them and they certainly dont understand us.

Coun Beazer said respect started with the law.

Councillors agreed to let councillors Berry and Spooner liase with the youth club to arrange a meeting to discuss the problems.

County councillor Gil Streets, who is was chairman of the youth clubs management committee, stressed that youth centre staff invested a lot of time in outreach work. It was not part of their job to act as pseudo policemen but rather to guide and help young people.

He did not think the youth club was the place for any meeting but added that it was important to get parents to realise theirs was the ultimate responsibility.

This is not an easy problem to solve but I think we can solve it. Beaminster is a nice town and there are a lot of nice kids in it, he added.

,,h District councillor Caroline Payne asked councillors to nominate youngsters who could be eligible for certificates of achievements for community service or an outstanding project. Nominations should be in by September 19.