Booze bans are extended

Posted on October 5, 2006

A new order has brought in an alchohol ban on a range of public places around South Beds.

Drinkers who are found knocking back the hard stuff in those areas can expect to be asked by police to hand over their booze.

It isn't an offence to drink alcohol in these areas, but anyone who refuses to hand over their booze to police can be arrested.

South Beds District Council's order to restrict antisocial drinking in public places came into effect on Saturday [30-Sep], and covers parts of Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Barton, Eaton Bray, Caddington, Hockliffe and Leighton Buzzard.

An area around the village green in Caddington will also come under an order of this type, but that will not be brought in until later this year.

The council said that local authorities resorted to these types of measures only when there has been "proven nuisance and annoyance" to people, linked with drinking alchohol in public.

And the council said it was committed to using all the powers available to curb that type of behaviour.

An order of this kind is only brought in after consultation with the local community, councils, police and businesses.

Local areas covered by the new order are:

• Barton: Windsor Road; Bedford Road; Bailey's Place; Franklin Avenue; War Memorial site, Hexton Road; burial ground, Church Road; sportsfield, Luton Road; Norman Road play area; play area, Park Meadow Close; the green at Lime Close.
• Carrington: Park at Rushmore Close; part at Elm Avenue; park at Edgecote Close.
• Dunstable: Holts Court, Edward Street; play area, Bunhill Close.
• Eaton Bray: High Street.
• Hockliffe: Kilby Road Recreation Ground; cemetary, Church Lane.
• Houghton Regis: Moore Crescent; Orchard Close Recreation Ground.

Source: Dunstable Gazette, 4 October 2006