Chippenham booze ban on the way

5:20pm Friday 16th May 2008

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A blanket booze ban in Chippenham could be rolled out within weeks in a bid to stop drunken behaviour in the town.

North Wiltshire District Council has pressed on with proposals for the ban, despite the fact that town councillors rejected the suggestion in February.

Now the district council has launched a public consultation to see if a Designated Public Places Order should be placed in the town.

If the order gets the go ahead drinkers could face having their alcohol confiscated if they ignore police warnings to stop drinking in public.

Police and North Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership spearheaded the DPPO order, which would stretch from Stanley Park to West Cepen Way.

North Wiltshire lead member for community and wellbeing Coun Bob Causer said: "The summer months are a time when the warmer weather leads to an increase in drinking in public places and so a larger number of incidents and complaints.

"The council and its community safety partners have a duty to work together to reduce crime and disorder and alleviate the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour."

Public consultation began on Monday and councillors are set to debate the results on June 24.

Chippenham town councillors were the first town in Wiltshire to reject a DPPO, saying the ban was too widespread.

Between April and September last year the police were called to 240 incidents involving antisocial behaviour.

Of these, 47 involved the causing of actual bodily harm.