MINEHEAD residents are being subjected to ’terrible anti-social noise and appalling disturbance often until 3am’, from night-time revellers in the town centre which needs to be treated with ’the utmost urgency’, Minehead town councillors were told this week.

All 16 members have been contacted by Minehead resident and community campaigner Christopher Miller, drawing their attention to what he called "a problem of anti-social behaviour that affects many residents and paints our town in the most negative light for our visitors who are so economically important to the community."

Mr Miller told councillors: "I and many other residents are looking to you as our representatives to get a grip this lamentable state of affairs."

He claimed that even from his home on North Hill he could hear "the most appalling shouting, screaming, hooting and hollering in the town centre from late night into the small hours often to 3am mainly at weekends in the areas surrounding the main street and Wellington Square.

"A very substantial portion of the population is affected by this terrible anti-social noise which carries a great distance in town and can continue hour after hour. Last Saturday (January 15) was yet another such night.

"Whether it is fuelled by drugs, alcohol or recreational nitrous oxide gas, this sort of behaviour is entirely intolerable and must be dealt with firmly and effectively. We cannot close our ears to this insidious problem any longer."

Minehead Town Council is set to discuss Mr Miller’s complaints at its next meeting on Tuesday (January 25).

But Cllr Terry Venner, who represents North Ward, said he had not personally received any complaints about night-time noise in the past six months and Cllr Michael Burke, who lives in the centre of town, said he cast serious doubt on Mr Miller’s allegations.

A Minehead publican who asked not to be named, said: "Things can get a bit boisterous, particularly with visiting youngsters during the holiday season, but we are in a residential area and try hard to keep a lid on the noise, particularly in the garden.

"The problem is that once we are closed and people are off the premises we obviously have no control over how they behave. Most of our customers behave very responsibly and we won’t tolerate noisy trouble-makers."

Avon and Somerset Police’s general guidance is that nuisance noise is not usually a police matter but should be reported to a local council.

A spokesperson said: "The Minehead Neighbourhood Policing team continue to carry out regular patrols of the town centre and would encourage anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour to report them to police on 101 or via our website https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report.

"Alternatively, we invite local residents to discuss any community concerns they may have with officers at our regular beat surgeries. The next event is due to be held on Tuesday, February 8, at Minehead Library, Stephenson Road on between 2pm and 3pm.

"Details of future beat surgeries are advertised on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/aspmineheadwestsomerset"

For the full story see this week's Free Press.