SIR,

I read comments attributed to Mr Tom Innes regarding the proposed alcohol ban in Monmouth with utter disbelief.

He says that: "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."

Is he blind and deaf?

He says he is a resident of Monnow Street. Has he not seen the number of shop windows broken in that very street this summer? Or noticed dishevelled individuals sitting on the benches in the middle of the mornings with bottles of booze beside beside them? Or heard shouting and swearing in the evenings? Or noticed the amount of cans and bottles lying around not to mention the pools of vomit?

Dixie Innes (a relative perhaps) is her statement says: "the only people I know that do drink outside are those who are under age", thus admitting that there is a problem.

This proposal was instigated by the police as a direct result of there being a significant number (178 actually - over three per week in the last year) of drink related incidents occurring in the town, particularly between Friday night and the early hours of Sunday morning.

Yes, there will still be drunkenness but at least this proposal may help to reduce the man hours the police currently spend in following up this type of anti-social behaviour.

After all, we're not talking draconian measures here - simply the right of the general public to access the town without having to come across people swigging alcohol at all hours of the day.

Market Trader

(Name and address supplied)