Street drinking ban considered for seaside town

A ban on drinking alcohol on the streets of Scarborough town centre is being considered by councillors.

North Yorkshire Council is asking people for their views on implementing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that would either totally ban street drinking or partially restrict alcohol consumption in "hotspot" areas.

A previous PSPO in the town, which expired in 2023, restricted drinking in public places that could lead to anti-social behaviour.

In the last three years, North Yorkshire Police handled 1,191 incidents of anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol in central Scarborough, the council said.

PSPOs give councils and the police additional powers to deal with a particular problem in a certain area.

They can be a blanket order which applies to everyone at all times or they can be more targeted - such as banning the drinking of alcohol in a specific location between set times.

The council has asked for the public's views, external on the two proposals, with neither applying to the consumption of alcohol on licensed premises.

This included restaurants with outdoor seating, the authority added.

Councillor David Chance, from North Yorkshire Council, said: “Over the past few years, we have had constant complaints from Scarborough residents relating to anti-social behaviour in the town centre, which has become a hotspot for incidents.

"We now want to bring in more rigorous restrictions.”

As part of the consultation, the authority also asked for views on whether public urination and defecation should also be the subject of a PSPO.

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