To consider a proposal to designate highways and other areas as public places within the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, to restrict anti-social public drinking.

Wards: Bromyard, Golden Valley North, Aylestone, Three Elms, Belmont, and Stoney Street

The Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) presented a report about the proposed designation of certain public places in Herefordshire to control anti social drinking in public places.  He said that Local authorities had for some time had the power to bring in Byelaws to control the consumption of alcohol in streets, roads and other such places within their areas.  The powers were strengthened by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 which made it easier for the Police to arrest those engaged in anti-social drinking.  The Council and its predecessor Councils had previously brought Byelaws into effect in parts of the City of Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, and Bromyard.  He also said that the powers within the 2001 Act had brought about a change in town centres by helping to reduce loutish and anti-social behaviour.  A 'tool' was therefore available to control such behaviour and to reduce the chances of drinking vessels being used in acts of violence.  Since 2001 Herefordshire Council had made three Orders relating to areas within Hereford City and the village of Madley. 

The Committee concurred with the proposals put forward by the Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) to introduce a further Order to designate other areas within the County.  The Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) said that the next stage would be to place an advertisement in a local newspaper informing the public that an Order had been made and when it would come into effect, and that signs would be erected within the appropriate areas.  He advised that The Home Office, landowners, police and Parish Councils would be informed of the commencement of the Order.

RESOLVED

THAT     an Order be made designating those areas detailed below as public places for the purposes of section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

Public open space (inc. Ball Court) to the west of Waterfield Road and south of Kestrel Road, Belmont, Hereford

Public open space (inc. Skateboard Park) to the east of Brampton Road, to the west of the dismantled railway line and south of Ethalstan Crescent, Newton Farm, Hereford

Public open space to the north of Luard Walk and south of the River Wye, Belmont, Hereford

Eastholme Centre, Eastholme Road, Belmont, Hereford (i.e. areas adjacent to and around the library, health centre and community centre including the car park)

Public open space at Northolme Road, Belmont, Hereford (to include the building, tarmacadamed areas adjacent to the building, children’s play area and land between the building and the play area)

Churchill Gardens, Aylestone, Hereford (in its entirety)

Recreation ground off Grandstand Road, Bobblestock, Hereford (i.e. those areas comprising the football pitch, car park, play area, changing rooms, bowling green and areas between these parts)

Recreation Field (inc. its car park), Peterchurch

Peterchurch Churchyard, Peterchurch

Chapel Road (aka Station Road), Peterchurch

Bromyard Cemetery

Broad Street, Bromyard

High Street, Bromyard

Rowberry Street, Bromyard

Church Lane, Bromyard (to the entrance to Old School Court)

Church Street, Bromyard (to its jct. with Porthouse Industrial Estate)

Cruxwell Street, Tenbury Road, Bromyard (to its jct. with Firs Lane)

Tenbury Road car park, Bromyard

Land within the curtilage of Bromyard Leisure Centre

Council Offices, Bromyard

Alleyway adj. to Library, Bromyard

Pump Street, Bromyard (to its jct.with Little Hereford Street)

Market Square, Bromyard

Queens Passageway, Bromyard

Kempson Players, Bromyard (formerly the Playing Fields)

St Peter’s Closed Churchyard, Bromyard

Nunwell Park, Bromyard

The Knapp Recreation Ground, Bromyard

Bowling Green and Tennis Courts, Rowberry Street, Bromyard