Have street drinking restrictions had an impact in Wisbech? That’s what Fenland District Council (FDC) wants to find out in their survey.
FDC is asking for residents’ views on the impact of street drinking rules in the town as part of a 12-month review.
The survey comes after a public spaces protection order (PSPO) was introduced in October last year to tackle alcohol-fuelled incidents and antisocial behaviour in the town.
The order restricts all alcohol consumption in three ‘no drinking zones’ – Tillery Fields, St Peter’s Church Gardens and the Memorial Garden in The Crescent – and controls drinking across a wider town centre area.
The council is running a community survey from October 8 to 21 to help assess the impact of the PSPO and see whether its alcohol restrictions need to be reconsidered.
The review process will also include data obtained from the council’s CCTV operations, incident reporting to police and fixed penalty notice (FPN) data.
Councillor David Oliver, the council’s portfolio holder for community safety, said: “Since its inception, the PSPO has been regularly monitored to ensure the restrictions provide the appropriate enforcement options to tackle the problems being experienced.
“A year on, we’d like to find out what the community thinks to the PSPO and the impact it has had on street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour. “We’d also like residents’ views on how we should continue to approach the issues going forward so we can consider any potential changes to the PSPO.”
The PSPO is part of a wider alcohol action plan being delivered by the council through the Wisbech Alcohol Partnership, with support from the Wisbech 2020 Vision.
Other initiatives include monthly recovery walks by the Inclusion Adult Substance Misuse Treatment Service, with help from other local support services, and drug and alcohol training events.
Two outreach workers have also been recruited with funding from the Government’s controlling migration fund to engage with street drinkers and offer them support.
To take part in the PSPO survey, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/PSPOsurvey
Paper copies of the survey are also available at the One Stop Shop in Wisbech.
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