Concern that booze ban plans don't go far enough
ANGUS Licensing Board will this week consider a plan to expand the prohibited public drinking area in Brechin, although some of the town's most frequented under-age drinking hot spots are not included.
The proposals will extend the current prohibited area from its north-eastern boundary on Southesk Street along Trinity Road, stopping just before the nature trail, cutting round both the cemetery and library, encapsulating the ground around Glebe Park.
However, the plan stops short of including Brechin Park, the nature trail itself and the area around the war memorial - notoriously used by youngsters to congregate and illegally consume alcohol.
Should the board approve the proposals - which also include the expansion of the prohibited areas in Montrose, Arbroath, Carnoustie and Kirriemuir and the introduction of new areas in Forfar and Monifieth - a draft would be presented to the Scottish Government for approval.
Formal consultation would then be undertaken with the procurator fiscal and Tayside Police, before the proposed byelaws are advertised in the press for public consultation.
Bob Brymer has lived in Wards Road, directly next to the park, for nearly 40 years. He's surprised that the Angus Licensing Board haven't seen fit to include the park in the plans given its notoriety.
He said: "Sometimes the park can be really bad. It's not been bad for a wee while - my wife says that's because of the cold!
"They come up here in their droves and you could have 20, 30 or even 40 youngsters gathered there.
"It has been a problem for years. If you phone the police about it, they take about half an hour to an hour to get there, but even then the kids see them and scarper off in all different directions.
"I'm surprised the board hasn't included it. I thought they would have extended it up into the park because of this."
Mr Brymer said the underage drinkers do cause a considerable nuisance, both at the time and after they depart.
He said: "They can be up there drinking until midnight, 1am, bawling and shouting. There are even cars that come along to drop off drink.
"You get a lot of broken bottles, etc., in the mornings and there's empty cans everywhere. There's a lot of young kids play up there during the days.
"I'm really surprised it's not been included."
The report was due to be considered on Wednesday.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Brechin
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
