Walsall town centre facing drinking ban

Walsall Council wants to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to clamp down on increasing problems in the town centre, mainly related to drink.

The PSPO would outlaw street drinking and groups congregating to drink, as well as a host of other offences such as the taking of drugs and aggressive beggars.

Police officers would be able to confiscate drink and drugs.

Town centre councillor Aftab Nawaz said he would welcome the proposal as he claims residents are left 'horrified' at people's behaviour in the town centre.

He said: "I certainly welcome it. We have had many instances where anti-social behaviour has been quite rife, whether it is people standing around drinking or doing some other disgusting activities.

"As a St Matthew's councillor I have had many residents come to me saying they are really horrified at the way people behave in the town centre so anything to improve that is welcome.

"Also we need to attract people to Walsall town centre and if someone has a bad experience it will be difficult to get them back. Cracking down on anti-social behaviour is something I very much support."

As well as tackling drinking, the PSPO would also prohibit people from causing a nuisance in shops and in Walsall market, outlaw people from using hypodermic needles in a public place, dropping the needles or other drug paraphernalia, people begging in a manner to cause harassment or distress, people loitering around the bus station, cenotaph and other landmarks. The PSPO also bans residents from consuming any psychoactive substance and urinating or defecating in public.

Lorraine Boothman, the regulatory services manager at Walsall Council, said: "We receive many complaints about the behaviour of people in the town centre – behaviour which can be intimidating or offensive to others and makes the town centre a much less attractive place to visit. The council has listened to people's concerns and believes that making a Public Spaces Protection Order will be widely welcomed."

Consultation on the PSPO has already started with special drop-in sessions set up this month for residents to ask questions of the council and of local police officers.

The sessions will be held at the Council House, Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1AE on Friday from 1pm till 4pm, Tuesday, May 9, from 10am until 1pm and Wednesday, May 17, from 5pm until 8pm.