Borough calls time on public boozing

10:41am Saturday 5th July 2008

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ALCOHOL-free zones are to be introduced next month in Test Valley's urban areas - including Romsey.

The scheme is part of a borough-wide campaign to stamp out boozing in public places and reduce problems with drink-fuelled yobs on the streets.

Valley Park ward's Test Valley Borough councillor, Alan Dowden, first mooted the idea of alcohol-free areas more than a year ago after trouble with yobs in his patch.

Now the borough council has made an order banning booze from the streets of Romsey and the neighbouring parish of Romsey Extra, along with North Baddesley, Valley Park, Chilworth and Nursling and Rownhams from August 1.

The order also applies to Andover's streets.

Anyone caught drinking booze on the street by a police officer or dedicated patrols will have it confiscated and will be issued with a fixed penalty notice and face being prosecuted.

Mr Dowden welcomed the news and said he couldn't wait for the law to come in force.

"I am very pleased that a lot more areas are going to be designated alcohol-free areas than when I first put the idea forward. But they have taken such a long time to do it. I wanted this in place before the school summer holidays started, but it won't be done until two or three weeks after schools finish.

It's been proven where these measures have been introduced that they do work. It won't completely eradicate problems, but it will certainly help," said Mr Dowden, pointing out that antisocial behaviour was one of the public's biggest concerns and a lot of the problems were alcohol-related.

Romsey Town Council has fully supported the alcohol-free control zones and the authority's leader and mayor, Karen Dunleavey, said: "If this helps to stop antisocial behaviour and enhances Romsey, then it has to be a good thing and I totally support it."