A PROPOSAL that alcohol-free zones should be implemented in Okehampton was last week shelved by members of the town council?s policy committee. Members were told that the town clerk and mayor had held a meeting with police representatives, with a view to implementing an alcohol ban on the streets of Okehampton. Cllr Tony Leech, town mayor, said: ?We had a very good meeting but basically the police are saying they wouldn?t back an alcohol-free zone for a number of reasons.? Cllr Leech said the laws regarding arrests were due to change in January next year and new licensing laws have now also come into force. He said the police?s community support officer had done a ?very good job? in patrolling areas in the town where problems had occurred. Town clerk Don Bent said the police did not feel there was a problem with on-street drinking ? and also felt they did not have the resources effectively to police an alcohol ban: ?If we were looking to spend £4,000 to £5,000 we would be better off spending it on a CCTV system across the town.? Cllr Kay Bickley said the new pub watch scheme in Okehampton was working ?very well?. ?Publicans are very positive about it and I think it?s having a positive effect,? But she was concerned about an increased incidence of criminal damage in Okehampton this year, which could be ?alcohol-fuelled?. Cllr Michael Ireland said drink-related litter was an issue in some areas of the town. ?A number of residents have said to me they regularly get this sort of material outside their doors ? it?s a litter problem that?s extending to the periphery of the town,? he said. Cllr Charles Letchford, chairman of the committee, said: ?If the police are not prepared to support an alcohol-free zone, I see little point us trying to pursue it.? The committee agreed the issue should be shelved for the next six months, to see how matters progressed, particularly regarding legal changes about to come into practice.
