Councillors have supported a crackdown on street drinking and anti-social behaviour as a town centre reaches a “tipping point.”
Wiltshire Council is currently running a public consultation on a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Chippenham town centre and John Coles Park, at the request of police.
The council says this measure is in response to residents and businesses experiencing issues with street drinking, anti-social behaviour, drug use, and public urination, defecation, and indecency.
If introduced, the order would ban street drinking and give officers the power to disperse groups or individuals from the area for 48 hours.
Anyone breaching the order could be fined £100 on the spot.
Responding to the consultation, Chippenham Town Council’s planning committee voted to agree that a PSPO was needed to address these issues, despite emphasising that ant-social behaviour in the area is not severe.
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Cllr Nic Puntis said: “This isn’t us accepting that we’ve got a massive problem, it’s trying to nip something in the bud using an extra tool in the armoury to ensure we don’t end up with a bigger problem.
“It’s obviously got to that tipping point where the police and Wiltshire Council have decided this needs to be considered.”
Cllr Matthew Short added: “Whilst it’s not a major problem at the moment in the past police have had difficulties with people drinking under The Buttercross.
“I think it supports the work of Unity House rehabilitating people by not having alcohol which is causing distress to residents in the nearby area.”
Cllr Dominic Muns, cabinet member for environment, said the majority of responses have supported the plans.
He added: “Thank you to everyone who has given us their thoughts up until now, however, for more people to have their say, we particularly want to hear from those residents and businesses that are being affected by anti-social behaviour.
“Whilst Wiltshire remains a very safe county, it is still our responsibility as a council to safeguard our residents and businesses from harm.
“We believe that a PSPO in Chippenham will help reassure our residents and reduce some of the anti-social behaviour that is being seen in the town.”
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Residents and businesses can have their say on the plans by visiting www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community-safety-pspo-chippenham.
Hard copies can be viewed by emailing ASB@wiltshire.gov.uk.
The consultation will run until March 2, and feedback received will be considered before a final decision is made.
Cllr Muns added: “I’d encourage those who haven’t yet done so to go online to read the proposal and have your say.”
