Town centre drink ban (From Wiltshire Times)

Town centre drink ban

2:12pm Tuesday 25th July 2006 in Trowbridge

DRINKING in Trowbridge town centre could be banned if a proposal by a county councillor is adopted.

Cllr Julie Swabey asked a meeeting of Trowbridge Area Seminar on Monday to consider a blanket plan on drinking in public places across the town centre.

Cllr Swabey said: "Over the years there has been drinking in the park but in the past few weeks it has got worse.

"People should be able to use the park and the town centre without being subjected to lewd comments and abuse by groups of drunken men."

Trowbridge residents came along to the meeting to support cllr Swabey's proposal.

Roy Rhymes, 75, of Regal Court, said: "One of the worst problems caused by the drinking is the rubbish they leave behind, the broken glass, especially in the park where children play."

Insp Dave Cullop of Trowbridge Police said the force would work with local authorities to try to solve the problem but warned a ban would be difficult to enforce in Trowbridge.

The introduction of the 2003 Licensing Law late last year meant Trowbridge Town Council faced a dilemma with regard to town centre events and has resulted in the town park and some roads being licensed all year round, preventing a drinking ban being introduced.

The park is used for entertainment events such as the West Wilts Show, Picnic in the Park and Community Spotlight, which are all licensed.

Under the act the council could only apply for an occasional licence if less than 500 people were expected to attend, forcing them to instead licence the park all year round to hold just a few events.

Town clerk Lance Allan said: "A Temporary Entertainments Licence (TENS) only allows for 499 people but the covenant on the park doesn't allow restrictions on people attending. It is a Catch 22 situation and we are having to have a licence 365 days a year to allow events to take place."

Cllr leader Sarah Content asked that the issue of difficulties with the law be taken up at national level and the seminar voted to form a working party to look at the feasibility of a drinking ban and at the wider social issues involved.