DRUNKEN louts have made a town centre a no-go area, according to frightened residents.
Local people say groups of alcohol-fuelled yobs gather in Daniel Owen Square, Mold, intimidating and scaring visitors, both during the day and at night.
Community leaders say the gangs put people off visiting the market town’s focal point, home to the famous Daniel Owen statue.
In a letter to Mold Town Council, Sue Hipkiss, who works at Mold Library, which is in the square, said the groups used loud and abusive language and were often violent.
She has called on the council to replace a bench in Daniel Owen Square with a bicycle rack or floral planters to deter them from congregating.
“Large groups of people regularly use this space to meet and drink large amounts of alcohol,” she said.
“It has been necessary for me to contact the police on numerous occasions due to the anti-social behaviour I, and others, have encountered.
“In September last year I was witness to acts of extreme violence when this drunken group started fighting.”
Miss Hipkiss said visitors to the library had told her they were scared to leave the building because they felt intimidated by the groups.
“I am concerned about the dreadful impression the many visitors to this part of town are taking away with them,” she said.
“How many visitors don’t even venture into this part of town when they are confronted with this scene?”
Cllr Chris Bithell agreed the groups were a problem and said he had received complaints about people congregating in the square.
“The longer these groups stay, the more inebriated they become and their language can be obscene,” he said.
“Many people, including the elderly and females, find them intimidating. It also has an impact on market days because these groups are driving trade away.
“It is not a good advertisement for Mold.”
However, Cllr Bithell is not convinced removing the bench will solve the problem.
“If we remove one bench these groups could simply move to another,” he said.
“The benches were put there to give shoppers and visitors a place to sit and rest.
Taking them away punishes the rest of the community.
“The council needs to discuss in detail what action we can take to deal with this problem effectively.”
Cllr Carol Heycocks also shares Ms Hipkiss’ concerns.
“This is a problem that has been brought up at council meetings on several occasions,” she said.
“I think replacing the bench with a bike rack is a good idea. It will allow people to come and go at the library without feeling intimidated.”
North Wales Police did not wish to comment until the matter had been discussed by Mold Town Council at its meeting on Wednesday. Anybody with information should call North Wales Police on 101.