Craven Arms alcohol ban could be in force by Christmas

AN ALCOHOL ban could be brought into force in a south Shropshire town by Christmas, it was revealed today.

It had been feared any decision on a designated public places order in Craven Arms would be put back until April. But according to the town council, officials at Shropshire Council have had a rethink.

Designated public place orders will be discussed at a full council meeting at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Thursday.

Town councillors in Craven Arms will now meet tonight to finalise whether they want a blanket ban across the town or to target specific areas.

Clive Leworthy, chairman of Craven Arms Town Council, said: "We were concerned we would have to wait several months before we got the designated public places order."

But he said he had met with Andy Goldsmith, assistant director for public protection at Shropshire Council, and he had agreed to get the issue discussed this week.

He added: "We are really pleased with this, and all we will have to do tonight is discuss where we want the zone to run.

"If we can get this in place before Christmas that will be great, and we have been told by Mr Goldsmith that's a realistic aim."

No-one from Shropshire Council was available to comment.

Residents, police officers and councillors in the town have been campaigning for a booze ban for several months.

More than 300 people have also signed petitions calling for action to be taken in the town.

The area has been plagued with incidents of anti-social behaviour in recent times, particularly around shops and on the town's playing fields, with many believed to have been fuelled by alcohol.

Under the terms of a banning order, police officers will be able to confiscate alcohol from people deemed to be causing a nuisance in a public place where the order applies.

Police officers claim they received 56 calls throughout July and August from residents in the town over incidents of anti-social behaviour.

By Peter Kitchen