I MAKE reference to the disgraceful scenes witnessed by many residents, families and children at Grays war memorial on Monday last week.

A woman and man were urinating in an area considered one of the most sacred and respected parts of Thurrock.

I read council enforcement officers, partner agencies and police are all working in close co-operation with these elements are continually tackling this issue.

As a lifelong resident, when I see such despicable lewd acts carried out at OUR war memorial, then I think those that fail to take ownership of the situation should hold their heads in shame.

It is just about the lowest of the low public disorder offence I can ever imagine, and strikes at the very heart of any standard of decency and civilised behaviour.

Moreover, those commercial outlets in Grays High Street that continue to sell alcohol at less price than a bottle of water (and to people who are clearly drunk) is not helping.

Their alcohol licences should be withdrawn.

No ifs or buts, they have had enough warnings on this issue and treat any such warnings with impunity!

We all know which outlets they are and are all within 100yards of the war memorial and again very close to our police headquarters so there’s no excuses I now see as a result of the above, the council are having to consider a new “lay out” of the war memorial, really - can this really be true ?

Is this really the answer ?

At the end of the day the lay out doesn’t need to be changed at all, it’s the policing or lack of it needs to be changed.

Thurrock council have over the past year given priority in cleaning up many of the Boroughs war memorials and rightly so.

In seven weeks time we have Remembrance Sunday which is particularly poignant this year being the centenary of the ending of the great war.

Let’s have some police action with proper enforcement of the law and by law enforcement of cers, and those committing such despicable acts are arrested and put on trial and given no leniency, no sympathy or soft sentencing .

I call upon our new area commander Claire Talbot to take action today by taking a tough stance on those committing the offences and give Grays High Street back to the majority decent law abiding people who should not have to endure this.

TONY COUGHLIN

Thurrock Park