Halloween fire at St Martins Walk
I believe there was a small fire started at the bottom of St Martins Walk tonight. The fire brigade turned up at about 8.00pm to extinguish a fire started on the platform above the main steps which join the lower square.
Three youths wearing hoodies and shielding their faces were seen running from the scene up towards the High Street.
This was a potentially serious, but as it turned out, relatively harmless act of young people who decided it was a good idea to light a bonfire in a shopping centre.
What is it about Dorking these days? I know tonight was Halloween and there were a few young people around, but I have definitely noticed an increase in teenagers hanging about the town recently, sometimes up until the late hours.
When I was growing up I had to be in by 9.00 and was not allowed into the main Town Centre at that time - with nothing to do... I blame the parents!
posted by The Cockerel @ 12:04 AM
5 Comments:
There has been one or two comments lately on the dorking blog defending the historic market town of dorking and also defending the kids having "a bit of fun" around this time of year. I most certainly can say that i think there is a few too many kids hanging about, the latest hang out is the subway sandwich bar last night as i walked by at about 6.30ish there were probably about 10 to 15 kids all blocking the doorway and jumping around on their bikes and skateboards etc. If i wanted to take my kids in there which i must add i would not! it would have been an effort to get through without hearing bad language etc. I am all for providing youth cafe's etc because the kids do have nowhere to go however the present problem is that there is too many kids causing a nuisance hanging around on the streets and it is obvious sooner or later reports in the dorking ad will be of fight's, smashed windows, littering and the rest. Dorking needs more policing right now.
As for the town it has been pointed out that Dorking is beautiful and a wonderful place to live with high employment, good education and generally low crime that does not detract however the bad economy and shambolic sight of our high street with huge numbers of vacant units and those that are occupied on the brink of going bust Doking needs action to take it from a nice place to live and for the shop's a sustainable place to work into a fantastic place and very lucrative to encourage a better shopping experience.
What is going to happen next??? A harmless fire yes, but these idiots will unfortunately graduate onto worse things. As I have said before, we need ZERO TOLERENCE policing. Yes, the majority of kids are well behaved but there is a visible minority who are getting younger and younger, who have no respect for anyone (apart from themselves), property and people in authority. I see them constantly outside The White Horse, racing their crappy cars, getting cheered on by their hoodie mates, swearing, spitting, blocking pavements, being abusive to anyone who questions their anti-social antics. The parents are ultimately to blame. They allow their kids to roam the streets, eating garbage 7 days a week, drinking alcohol and pestering passer's by for fags and booze. I spoke to the beat officer, some weeks ago, and he was aware of the problem but said his hands were tied, as the kids parents' would not co-operate and sort out their feral scumbags.
So, in other words, these nasty individuals will get worse until they hit 17 or 18, when ASBO's can be served on them. As for their parents, they should be named and shamed via the local press, benefits should be stopped and these kids should wear bright yellow bibs, picking up litter and clearing graffiti off property. I guess this is just a pipe dream..
Anyone seen the St. Martin's Walk advertisement in this months Challenger?? First of all, they state that there are twenty six shops. I counted and there are only twenty three shops that are actually open. I guess, they are counting the cheapo shops that are usually open around the Christmas period and the santa's grotto! Also, they have an out of date picture, showing Mr. Pip's which closed almost two years ago!! Can the manager for St. Martin's walk do anything right???
Also noticed, that a shop selling wedding dresses, prom dresses is due to open (yes, open!) in St. Martin's Walk. It is going to be called Country Bride. Sincerely hope, it is not another short term lease. Remember, the last shop selling wedding dresses -- it went bankrupt! It was situated in South Street, where The Wow Gallery, is at present. Also St. Martin's Walk have finally updated their pretty useless website. Take a look & marvel at the empty shops!!
Taken from the Surrey Police website - 5/11/2007
Rapid response to Dorking criminal damage results in arrest
Police officers arrived at the scene quickly and arrested a teenager following criminal damage caused to a High Street hairdressers on Saturday, 3 November.
Surrey Police were called at 11:37pm to Riccos Hair Studio after witnesses heard a window smash.
Officers responded and arrested a 16 year old boy matching the suspect's description.
The 16 year old has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
So, I guess this reinforces our opinion, why is a 16 year old roaming the High Street at 11:30pm, probably off his head on booze hellbent on causing criminal damage??? Where, the hell are his parents??? They should be throughly ashamed of themselves, as for the 16 year old, I hope you enjoyed yourself at the Reigate Police Station. These kids should be named and shamed period! I am sick and tired of kids roaming around with nothing better to do that smash windows, tag property and generally making a real nuisance of themselves. Hope Riccos get some satisfaction that the moron has been caught. Well done to the witnesses who reported this matter to the police. They could have easily walked on by and the business would have to pick up the pieces literally on Monday morning. Message to Redhill Magistrates Court - please throw the book at this immature thug!!! ~AP~
The FUNKSTER speaks:-
Yo people!! I assume all the anonymous posters are readers of the Daily Express and the Daily Mail. All you do is complain and complain about the youngsters of today. Get a life! To AP, I find it highly amusing that you are complaining about a 16 years hanging around on a Saturday nite at only 11:30pm. Remember a 16 year old, can get married, have sex etc., so if you are concerned about a 16 year old, stop complaining and stay inside on a Friday and Saturday nite.
So the 16 year old, broke a shop window, big deal! If the business was insured, the insurance company would payout. If not, it is their bad luck. Remember to tar every youngster with the same brush is just juvenile and pathetic. Graffiti is just like art and why does Mole Valley spend so much money getting rid of it time and time again. As for the police, they continually pick on the youngsters, creating a lot of resentment amongst that age group. It is just wrong and to be quite honest, they pick on the youngsters cos' they have nothing better to do.
Judging by the comments above, I guess your readers would bring back the birch, capital punishment and exterminate all immigrants. A bit of graffiti does no harm, neither does hanging around street corner talking to your mates. It seems your bloggers are all paranoid whingers with nothing better to do and reminise about the Dorking of old, when there was horse and carriages etc. It is little wonder, that the young people of Dorking are so keen to move out of this god forsaken hellhole!! As for the youth cafe, that Mole Valley has been promising for years and years in Dorking, there is still no sign of it on the horizon.
FUNKSTER
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