IT started out as one of those inspired ideas which sought to combine some of the best things on offer for those wanting a day out with a difference.
The Ale Trail was meant to give visitors to the Colne Valley a chance to sample the dramatic landscape, the delights of train travel plus the pleasure of a pint or two of real ale.
And that is exactly where the problems kicked in. For the real intent of the Ale Trail has been hijacked by stag, hen and other large parties.
Instead of bringing more people into the Colne Valley villages simply to enjoy what they have to offer, the trail has inadvertently created huge levels of anti-social behaviour.
Villagers have had to contend with yobbish behaviour which has included visitors urinating and vomiting in streets and gardens.
Those resident must then have been pleased to hear the comments yesterday from West Yorkshire’s top police officer, Mark Gilmore, who visited Marsden and pledged more resources to tackle the problems.
Few would want to see what could be a real tourist magnet for the area curtailed.
What they surely want instead is for the trail to deliver what was originally intended – for people to come to the Colne Valley, enjoy what it has to offer without being rowdy, destructive or offensive.
With the backing of the police, hopefully that message will now get across to those who have abused the area’s hospitality.
If they can’t behave, we just don’t want them.
