Monday, October 29, 2012

MERTON LABOUR LEADER URGES CLAMP DOWN ON STREET DRINKING THROUGHOUT MERTON

LABOUR GROUP PRESS NOTICE DATE: MONDAY 29 OCTOBER 2012 RELEASE: IMMEDIATE LEADER URGES CLAMP DOWN ON STREET DRINKING THROUGHOUT MERTON Borough wide powers to control irresponsible street drinkers could be on the cards. Cllr Stephen Alambritis, the Leader of the Council, met with Merton's Borough Commander, Darren Williams , to pose the idea at their monthly meeting last week, (22 October). The next day (23 October) Cllr Alambritis was answering questions at Mitcham Community Forum when he confirmed his support for the measure to reduce the number of street drinkers in the borough. The meeting took place at Vestry Hall in Mitcham in front of a packed audience of residents and local councillors. Cllr Alambritis answered questions on a wide range of issues affecting Mitcham but it was his proposal to look into the scourge of street drinking that drew the interest of the audience. Cllr Alambritis said " I am pleased that the option for a borough wide ban on street drinking was on the agenda of last week's meeting of our Licensing Committee ( 25 October). There is still a long way to go and we will need to consult with residents. A proposal for a borough wide ban will also need council support and that could possibly be forthcoming at it's next meeting (21 November)." Alambritis added " We already have two such controlled drinking zones in Wimbledon and in Mitcham. By going borough wide we will be offering residents what is already on offer in Islington, Newham, Brent and Camden" ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS A Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) makes it an offence for people to drink alcohol after they have been asked not to do so by the Police. It is not a total ban on drinking alcohol in public, but is there to tackle irresponsible street drinkers. CONTACTS Cllr Stephen Alambritis Leader of the Council London Borough of Merton Merton Civic Centre London Road Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX Tel: 020 8545 3424 Mob: 07958 139 498 Email: stephen.alambritis@merton.gov.uk

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