A FORMER mayor of Chepstow has blasted tactics to tackle anti-social behaviour and litter in the town centre.

Councillor Stephanie Dovey, who represents the St Christopher's Ward on Chepstow town council, said the level of rubbish, particularly around the bus station, is a problem that cannot be ignored.

She told a Super PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting, held at the town council’s chamber: “We keep making excuses for some people. We’ve got Tidy Towns, Transition Chepstow, we have (the police) – I’m a councillor but I draw the line at picking up other people’s litter. There is no excuse for it.

“All round this town you see it all the time. We provide money for these youths to have a start but we seem to be making excuse after excuse.

“Every new inspector makes it their duty to crack down on anti-social behaviour. I’m sorry but the results are not there. I have no faith in the policies we are adopting."

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said of Cllr Dovey’s concerns: "While discussing the litter in Chepstow, a local CSO highlighted what could be done if someone is seen dropping litter. She also suggested a litter pick as a community solution: local CSOs are happy to take part and would encourage others to take part as a way of taking care of their own environment."

But the youth and community coordinator for Monmouthshire, Rory Garey, attended the meeting and said Cllr Dovey’s complaints were too generalised.

He said: “I think it is a community problem rather than a young people problem. It is a whole community approach rather than pointing the finger at younger people, which is an easy thing to do.

“If your only concern (in Chepstow) is with litter and dog fouling it cannot be too bad.”

And Chepstow School’s head teacher, Claire Price, said its staff and students had been doing everything they could to tackle anti-social behaviour and littering for at least the last two years and were “very conscious” of the impact it has on the community.

She said the school does not sell fast food or drinks cans and that it serves all meals on plates at break times in an effort to reduce litter.

While a coordinator for the Transition Chepstow group, Paul Gowen, said its focus is in urban spaces, parks and along the Wales Coast Path and less in the town centre.

County councillor Bryan Jones, cabinet member with responsibility for waste and recycling, said: “The council maintains a comprehensive waste collection service in the town and we would urge residents and visitors to use the bins provided or to take their litter home with them, particularly if it can be recycled. There really is no excuse for people throwing litter in the street.”