A RECENT editorial commented on remarks I made concerning the so-called street drinking ban in Wisbech at a meeting of Fenland District Council s Licensing Committee. This meeting approved the suggested area to be covered by a Designated Public Places Or

A RECENT editorial commented on remarks I made concerning the so-called street drinking ban in Wisbech at a meeting of Fenland District Council's Licensing Committee.

This meeting approved the suggested area to be covered by a Designated Public Places Order under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

I was and remain strongly of the view, that this measure should cover the whole of Wisbech.

It is clear from the Wisbech Standard on-line poll that the public supports the implementation of this measure, even when they do not know whether their street is included.

Perhaps some did not realise that their street might not be included and that their area might therefore become a safe haven for anti-social drinkers driven out of the DPPO area.

Why should the level of protection from anti-social behaviour provided by the law be different for my electors living in Hill Street to my electors in Cannon Street or Malt Drive? Clearly there should be no difference.

At the meeting, I proposed that the area should be the whole of Wisbech, but this did not find support from the other members of the committee.

The much smaller area proposed by the committee is now out to public consultation. This is an opportunity for the public to say what it wants.

If any member of the public agrees with me that the DPPO should cover the whole of Wisbech, or alternatively has other views, then they will need to write a note or letter to the Lin Bagwell, the Principal Licensing Officer at Fenland District Council and hand it in at the One Stop Shop. Alternatively, views can be submitted by e-mail to lbagwell@fenland.gov.uk directly. There is only a 28-day consultation period so any response needs to be quick.

CLLR JONATHAN R FARMER

South Brink

Wisbech