POLICE and village leaders in Liss are planning a crackdown on under-age drinking and litter louts. The news came after villagers told their parish councillors this week that they were disgusted with the state of the village and concerned about the growing problem of under-age drinking. They were told that police and licensing officers at East Hampshire District Council were planning a special operation in Liss to find out how youngsters are getting hold of alcohol. And councillors will be targeting litter hot spots across the district and hitting litter louts with on- the-spot fines. Clifford Dowdall told parish councillors he and his wife regularly used the Riverside Walk at Liss, and every week they collected two to three bags of rubbish including bottles and condoms. "Nobody seems to try to stop drinking or drug- taking, and I think the police, instead of chasing motorists, could chase these people sometimes as well." Elizabeth Cartwright told the full meeting of Liss Parish Council: "I, too, am concerned about the amount of drinking in this village. That drink has to be bought somewhere and it is being sold to people who are under age. "I really think as a parish council, we should be considering writing to the licensing committee of East Hampshire District Council and asking them to consider reducing the hours of opening of some shops so that they are are not open all hours to sell drink at all hours." Parish clerk Dick Bowery told her that councillors were planning a meeting with the licensing officer and the police officer responsible for the area. "They are going to be carrying out an operation to see what premises are selling alcohol to youngsters, whether they are shoplifting or whether there is intimidation of the staff, and they are going to be using secret shoppers to help them," he said. Roger Mullenger told fellow councillors he himself had been approached by people and asked to buy alcohol for under-age drinkers. He refused. Sue Halstead reported that she had witnessed "older" young people being "commissioned to go in and buy for the younger ones". And Howard Linsley urged councillors to write to companies selling alcohol pointing out that there was a £1,000 fine for anyone who bought for underage drinkers. Tony Grant, from Liss Forest Residents' Association, said he had been walking around Liss and was disgusted by the litter problem. "I don't know how you can blame the shopkeepers," he said. "It is villagers who drop the litter and the problem is caused by the people of Liss." Mr Grant urged parish councillors to allow their litter-picker to collect from all areas of the village, not just public open spaces. He said it should not be down to shopkeepers to litter-pick in front of their premises or in private car parks. Mr Bowery told the meeting that East Hampshire District Council was planning a litter blitz on hot spots in spring. "We have been asked to identify our hot spots, and the intention is to issue on-the-spot fines. It is largely the populous of Liss who are creating the litter." Parish council chairman Nigel Paren said councillors had written to the landlord of the shops in the village centre and asked that tenants be requested to keep the pavements clean but, he said, "part of the problem is Liss villagers themselves dropping letter left, right and centre". Liss parish councillors will contact residents' associations in a bid to come up with a list of litter hot spots in the area to pass on to the district council.
