DRUNKEN yobs have been urinating in gardens and drug dealing in dark streets near a busy pub, but CCTV cameras will now be installed to curb the problem.

Council chiefs will use a 360 degree camera on the nearby Elm Road to prevent punters’ bad behaviour across the road as they spill out of the nearby Elms Pub in Leigh.

The Wetherspoons venue has been hit with problems from drinkers leaving the pub for several years.

In March last year, a fight between 20 people ensued outside the pub. A woman in her 20s was assaulted in the brawl.

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Carole Mulroney, councillor in charge of environment and planning, said: “It will be 360 degrees, so they will have a view up and down the road. We have been pursuing this throughout lockdown, it’s been an issue for a while.

“Portaloos outside the pub were touted last summer, but nothing ever materialised. CCTV like this is a really good weapon in the armoury, but it’s a shame it’s come to this.”

Nearby residents have also reported noise and anti-social behaviour.

Pub bosses insist they’ve taken measures to combat the problem since last summer. Fencing was installed around the beer garden to create just one entrance.

Door supervision was also increased for greater control of customer numbers.

A spokesman said: “We have not been informed that CCTV is to be installed by Southend Council. CCTV for the area has been discussed for some years but we have not been told it is specifically to address problems arising from our pub.

“After the pub re-opened in July last year after the first lockdown, there were some issues with people congregating in the car park when the pub reached its full capacity.

“We have not been informed of any issues by the police or residents since the pub’s garden area re-opened in April this year.”

Martin Terry, councillor in charge of community safety, added: “We are pleased to be investing £2.2million to improve our extensive CCTV infrastructure and coverage across the borough.

“This includes adding to our network of 165 cameras with the installation of over 40 new cameras across the whole borough, including one in the vicinity of Elm Road, and other areas that have been highlighted through public consultation as potential hot spots.”

“It will also include the replacement of our existing cameras with new digital CCTV.”