Boozing banned in public to tackle yobs
ALMOST 50 more public areas are to become alcohol-free zones in the latest fight against anti-social behaviour.
Parts of Newcastle town centre, Clayton, Cross Heath, Wolstanton, Madeley and Talke will be designated alcohol-free zones from December 1.
Anyone caught drinking alcohol in the exclusion zones will have their drink confiscated and poured away and could be fined up to £500.
The zones are being set up following residents' complaints about yobs to Newcastle Borough Council.
Six of the 46 planned zones cover areas in Madeley, including Manor Road Cemetery and the former BT Exchange, in Furnace Lane.
Bill Welsh, chairman of Madeley Parish Council, welcomed the scheme but wants it properly enforced.
He said: "The police and the council have got to make sure they enforce the order so people know they cannot drink in certain areas.
"Just having a sign won't be enough to stop them.
"The problems with drinking and anti-social behaviour in Madeley are not as bad as other areas, but it's still good to get the exclusion zones in place."
The new orders will take the total number of exclusion zones in Newcastle borough to 349.
Several of the exclusion zones are in Wolstanton, including Clive Road.
Resident Percy Wells, aged 76, from Clive Road, said: "There is nowhere for young children to go.
"Somewhere like Silverdale has four or five youth centres but there is nothing like that in Wolstanton."
One of the zones is also being introduced along Clough Hall Drive, running from Beech Drive to Newcastle Road (A34) at Talke.
Graham Sutton, chairman of Clough Hall Residents' Association, in Kidsgrove, said: "We have a good relationship with our neighbourhood police officers.
"These new zones can only be a good thing."
A council spokesman said: "Orders for 46 sites were advertised in January and following consultation are now ready to be made official. We have identified sites where people have told us there is a problem."
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by Tony, pitsnpots.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 1:28PM
“You only have to look at the Gary Newlove case to see that we need mores of these zones. Stoke Council must act now! This is the subject of today's blog over at pitsnpots, you can link straight back to this story.”
by Nicky Davis, pitsnpots.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 11:32AM
“Alcohol is a huge problem in society and impacts on health and anti-social behaviour.
Rather than having to go to the bother of setting up all these public areas as alcohol-free zones, why don't we do it the other way around. Let's have all public areas as alcohol-free.
I accept that those who have whatever reason they do to want to drink alcohol, may wish the freedom to do that in certain public places. But then let's have a system where they make a reasoned application for particular public places in which alcohol will be allowed.”
by Anita, pitsnpots.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 8:44PM
“The sooner this law comes into place across the country the better. The anti social behaviour on our estate, was made worse by under age drinking. Youngsters would think nothing of sitting on a Friday/Saturday night, and drinking a bottle of neat vodka, or whatever they could get their hands on. Various gangs would then confront one another, and very often resulted in a fight.
In fairness, its not just the youngsters doing it, walk round various parts of the City in daylight, and you will very often see someone, with can of beer/cider in hand.”
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 9:51AM
“A wise move and a law that should be passed countrey wide. Drink is a vast ploblem to us all, the last thing you need to see at any time of day is some tanked up loon steaming round the streets with a can of beer or two or three or fore in his/ her hands, but I see it most days. If they feel the need to get in this kind of state, they sould do it in there home, if they have one, or in a pub, and the pub staff sould be able to refuse to sale them any more drink if that person is drunk.”
by Jenny Harper, Chesterton
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 9:04AM
“An excellent step in the right direction, but not the be all and end all.These young drinkers are determined that the Police, Local Council and Joe Public will not win. Hiding alcohol in pop bottles, squash bottles ,girl's handbags and even under bushes or behind garden walls are just some of the tricks within their vast arsenal of ever evolving ways to beat the ban.”