Tourism bosses calling for quay drink ban

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 21st Oct 2003.

TOURISM bosses will meet Dorset Police today to call for a ban on drinking on Poole Quay.

The police have opposed a bylaw which would prohibit alcohol in public spaces, fearing it would be hard to enforce.

But traders will push for action on people who they say wander along the Quay drinking, rather than sticking to managed areas outside pubs.

The Borough of Poole is considering bylaws to create alcohol-free zones. The police support such bans in areas such as the High Street, Kingland Road and the bus station but not on the waterfront.

Graham Shaw, head of tourism and marketing at the council, said: "The police were making the case on the basis of not being able to police it 100 per cent but the tourism panel took the view that there are many things that the police aren't able to do 100 per cent but it doesn't mean to say that you don't bring in the law.

"We're not talking about legitimate outside drinking. Everyone's keen on the managed areas. It's outside those areas, walking down the street from one pub to another with pints and cans and bottles."

He said the tourism panel, which is dominated by trade representatives, was still pushing for the Quay to be included.

Sgt Dave Ramsay, licensing officer for Poole police, said difficulty in enforcement was one reason why the police did not yet want to try an alcohol ban on the Quay.

He said: "At the moment it's not an area where the police are planning it. There are several areas in the town centre and Poole which we're looking at. At the moment, the Quay isn't one of them."

Archive Home