A new no-drinking zone is to be launched in the centre of Highbridge later this year in an effort to crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
Town councillors this week voted in favour of making Highbridge’s Town Green and the area next to the community hall, pictured, an official alcohol-free zone.
The current no-drinking zone in the Bank Street car park will be extended to cover the whole of the green, enabling police to confiscate alcohol.
It follows concerns expressed by residents in the town about late night trouble.
Pam Lyes, from the Highbridge In Bloom group, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday: “We very much welcome the extension of the alcohol-free zone to cover the Highbridge Green.”
“We frequently have to tidy away empty beer boxes and cans strewn across the green, which is not the image we want for the town.”
Several Designated Drinking Orders are already in force in other parts of Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge, having been originally introduced in 2005 to reduce anti-social drinking in known trouble spots.
Police have the power to ask for alcohol to be handed over if people are believed to be causing trouble. If they refuse, they can be arrested and face a fine of up to £500.
The orders are in operation at Winchester Road Playing Fields, the Manor Gardens, Rosewood Park playing fields, The Esplanade, Jubilee Gardens, Southwell Gardens and Apex Park.
