PROPOSALS to introduce an alcohol ban in Monmouth town centre and in streets leading to it have brought a mixed response from local people, The Beacon can reveal.

Readers have contacted us urging that the suggested ban is not needed and should be opposed, calling it ill-thought out and hare-brained, others say it is needed in the town.

Monmouthshire County Councillors have given the go ahead to the consultation process to introduce Alcohol Free Zones in Monmouth Town Centre, extending to Chippenham Mead, St Thomas' Square, Monnow Street, Agincourt Square, Priory Street, Dixton Road to School Bus entrance, across to Old Dixton Road to include the Skate Park and Rowing Club.

In a report, which has gone to councillors, a senior officer said:

The aim of an Alcohol Free Zone is to reduce nuisance, annoyance and disorder caused to members of the public by the consumption of alcohol in public places.

A request has been received from the Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer (CADRO) of Gwent Police in Monmouth for an Alcohol Free Zone within Monmouth.

This area was brought to the attention of the CADRO through the amount of police logs and ongoing issues of anti social behaviour and alcohol related crimes within the specified area of Monmouth.

Over the past year there have been 178 recorded incidents of Anti-social behaviour and crime linked to alcohol consumption of both adults and youths, within the proposed area.

Analysis indicates that the majority of the incidents occur after midday and continue steadily through the evenings until 1am at the beginning of the week to 3am on Friday and the weekend. The volume of the incidents occur after 5pm on Friday evening through to 4am on Sunday morning.

Out of the 178 incidents 67% happen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In May 2006 Monmouth Police successfully implemented a Dispersal Order in St Mary's Church Yard. The Order was granted for twelve months and achieved the desired outcome. It was successful because of the contained area and through the efforts of the partner agencies involved.

The aim of the order is to prevent abuse of alcohol by adults within the town. The police already have and use effectively, their powers to deal with under 18's who are found in possession of alcohol.

There is however, a core of local male adults who are alcoholics and although stringent measures are taken with these individuals, simply taking the alcohol off them is not an option without this order.

Monmouth thrives on tourism and to portray a clean and healthy image of the town is a paramount objective.

This recent change means that Premises Licences and Temporary Event Notices that are required for open events within the streets specified in the Order for events such as the Monmouth Festival etc. will not be affected.

It is estimated each notice placed within the Monmouthshire Beacon is £200. The cost for 200 Alcohol Free Zone signs is £3900.

Beacon reader and town businessman Mr Tom Innes said the Police Reform Act had nothing to do with any legislation to designate public places for anything, alcohol or otherwise.

"It is clear that, before a public place is designated, there should be a problem with disorder as a result of drinking in the public place which is the subject of the designation" he said.

"Who has been bothered in the car park next to Chippenham or for that matter in the Waitrose car park, by disorderly drunken behaviour?

"Or in the car park behind Somerfield? Or down by the river beyond the Monmouth boathouse? Or is there something I don't know.

"Is Monmouth a huge den of disorderly public drinking extending over hundreds of acres?".

Mr Innes said he was a resident of Monnow Street and he rarely saw people drinking in the street, including the night time.

"You can hear a pin drop in Monnow Street at 2am on any night you care to mention.

"Yes, there is occasional rowdiness, but the rowdy people have been drinking in the pubs, not in the street. They come out of the pubs and behave in a disagreeable and disorderly manner". (continued on page 12)