Street booze ban set for town (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Street booze ban set for town

BOOZE could be banned from some parts of Moreton-in-Marsh.

A Moreton Town Council meeting voted to consult the police about introducing a bylaw banning the drinking of alcohol outdoors.

This ban would cover town council-owned parts of Moreton, including Queen Victoria Gardens and the allotments, although some members want it extended to the town centre.

This follows complaints about youngsters boozing late at night in Queen Victoria Gardens' children's play area, where broken glass has been strewn about.

Councillor Jennie Petersen said: "There's some very bad alcoholic behaviour in Moreton."

Councillor Jon Cousins said a bylaw would make boozing in the prohibited areas a criminal matter, enabling police to arrest offenders.

Calling on the council to introduce a bylaw banning outdoor boozing throughout the town centre, he said: "We wouldn't be the first town council to do it.

"We're all familiar with seeing people walking along the street and drinking."

Councillor Dick Carroll, council vice-chairman, said: "I don't think public houses are a problem.

"It's the various shops where you can buy bottles of beer or cans of beer."

Councillor Rod Hooper said Moreton's publicans must be consulted about the bylaw which could probably not be extended to High Street because that area came under the auspices of Gloucestershire County Council, not the town council.

He said: "On the town land I'm in favour of it but if you start talking about the High Street you have to be very careful because you're taking people's rights away."