Exclusiveby Alex Claridge

A quaint city centre street is now an impromptu toilet for drinkers spilling out of pubs, say residents.

People living in Hawks Lane, off St Margaret’s Street, say they are used by scores of young men – and occasionally women – urinating in the street and on the walls of their homes.

Police received calls on Saturday night from residents of St Margaret’s Street and Hawks Lane complaining about noise and people urinating.

Officers responded by issuing two men aged 25 and a third aged 37 with £80 fixed penalty notices for public urination.

Police support officer Steve Coulter said: “We hope these £80 fines will be a costly reminder to people that you cannot use people’s private property as a toilet.

“And failure to pay won’t make this go away. Those that don’t will find themselves summoned to court.”

John Arnold lives in Hawks Lane and says public urination on the walls of his house is an almost nightly occurrence.

“It’s rarer for it not to happen and this, apparently, is life in Canterbury city centre,” Mr Arnold said.

“These drinkers no longer look for seclusion. The concept of shame has disappeared and they even do it under the bright streetlight outside our house.

“They just open their trousers and stand there as if it’s normal behaviour.”
Mr Arnold has installed a gate in front of the courtyard by his house, but says drinkers will simply open the gate and urinate against the wall of his home.

He added: “If we see them we will ask them to stop and sometimes they will just shuffle off, but often we will be abused.”

Mr Arnold’s neighbour Alan Roberts is another affected by public urination
“People spill out of St Margaret’s Street and come down here as this is the way to other licensed premises,” Mr Roberts said.

“Unfortunately these people have drunk the drink and have to get rid of it.”
PCSO Coulter is also urging revellers to be quiet in city centre streets on nights out.

He added: “I do not believe that they realise how noisy they are being after coming out of night clubs where loud music is the norm.

“It is clearly very disruptive, however, for those who are trying to sleep.”