Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The consumption of alcohol in Trowbridge Park could be banned.
If the Order is imposed the police can stop people drinking and confiscate their alcohol.

In the past it hasn't been possible to make such an order because the park is covered by a license for when the town council holds events, and the law said you couldn't have an order banning alcohol in the same place as a license to sell it.

However, under new legislation this is now possible. The process for introducing the Order is, however, complicated. Firstly the council has to prove there's a problem and that the problem is likely to continue if no Order is introduced. Then notices have to be published and representations invited. Then an action plan has to be produced. The police have to confirm that they will be able to enforce the new law. The council again has to prove the Order is necessary and the problem hasn't disappeared while all that was being done. After the Order is imposed it must be reviewed after three months to see if it's still needed.

There's also the question of whether the district council or the town council should be doing the work, but my view tends towards the town paying for it. Incidentally, the cost is about £5,000.