Revelers in Cheltenham caught brief anger as they urinated in the street

Cheltenham appears to be losing its ‘war on the Wee’ as the weather eased on the city’s streets despite a crackdown by police and local council.

Dozens of additional marshals have been recruited to keep people from choosing the outdoors option as part of a broader war on antisocial behavior that culminates during the annual festival.

Photographers snapped a distraught racegoer urinating against a wall outside a busy shop.

While his six friends went to the busy supermarket, the man, in his early 20s, walked to the wall a few feet away, unzipped his fly and answered nature’s call in front of dozens of people.

Shocked spectators turned their heads in disgust. One, a woman in her 30s, told MailOnline: “He clearly had a skin full at the races and couldn’t hold it any longer.

A Cheltenham race-goer relieves himself in town despite the council’s ‘war on Wee’

Racegoers in Cheltenham: Local businesses say the town is quieter this year amid the livelihood crisis

“But we shouldn’t put up with having to watch men who have been drunk urinating in the street in front of everyone. It’s disgusting.’

This year’s Cheltenham City Council’s ‘War on Wee’ includes the unveiling of a placard telling visitors that ‘our town is not your toilet’ and companies offering hydrophobic paint designed to keep urine on splashing back the legs of evildoers.

However, the cost of living crisis appears to have contributed to a less harsh environment at this year’s races, as many of the city’s restaurants are emptier than usual and taxi ranks are quiet at 2am.

Sayed, 38, who works at Indian restaurant Kashmir, said at 7pm there were only 10 people in a room that could seat 38 people.

“It’s the cost of living. We would expect to be busy, but what can you do?’ he told the Times.

“Race week usually helps all business at Cheltenham but it’s already been a disastrous six months. I think by April or May a lot of places will go under.’

Citizen leaders have previously spoken out on the issue of anti-social behavior around the races, with a council poll last year showing that 75 per cent of local women “did not feel safe at night” during race week.

Almost a third stated that they had often been sexually harassed.

Racegoers enjoy themselves in one of the tents at the Cheltenham Festival

Guests pictured enjoying a few drinks at the bar yesterday afternoon on day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Maggie Stewart, director of the Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Center, said women had been forced to “change their behavior” during the festival to avoid harassment.

“Women tell us they need to shift their workdays, take taxis home instead of boarding a bus,” she said.

The crackdown on anti-social behavior has also resulted in the city council banning e-scooters all week.

The decision came after police raised concerns about intoxicated people riding them after dark.

The municipal council then agreed, much to the disappointment of the e-scooter operator Zwings, to suspend the vehicles.

The controversial bikes can be rented in more than 30 cities, where they are allowed on roads and paths by local authorities.

Come on guys! Another group of guys got in a quick mood yesterday

This is in line with a government experiment to see if they are viable enough for wider adoption as green transport.

Gloucestershire Police have raised concerns about “clearly drunk” people speeding through the city during last year’s festival evening, saying they could “cause all sorts of accidents”.

The force’s commissioner, Chris Nelson, said: “I saw people and they were clearly drunk getting on these things, more than one person, and then driving down Evesham Road and weaving in and out of public view.

“What I saw last November was a whole load of e-scooters parked in front of the racecourse entrance and I think that was a hit or miss.”

Despite this criticism, Zwings, who operates the e-scooters, has stressed that there have been no accidents during last year’s event.

The Chelthanham Festival is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar, attracting 250,000 visitors to the Cotswold town each year.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk