Local businesses in the CBD of Bairnsdale have had enough of the drug and alcohol-affected individuals frightening not only their staff, but customers who have said they don't want to come to town because of the crazed behaviour of ratbags who run unrestricted around the town.
Anthony Scott, of Bairnsdale Tattslotto, whose family have been trading in Bairnsdale for the past 50 years, said he has never seen the streets of Bairnsdale so bad.
Only last week a person was bashed across the street from his shop on the corner of Nicholson and Bailey streets.
Mr Scott said it is a sad state of affairs when people don't feel safe in the streets of Bairnsdale.
"The situation needs to stop," he said.
He said he would like to publicly call on civic leaders, East Gippsland Shire mayor Cr Tom Crook, local State MP Tim Bull and Federal representative Darren Chester to fix our town's real and perceived unsafe environment.