Cullercoats alcohol exclusion zone
18-MAR-09
Issued by: Jeanette Hedley
The legal process that will lead to the implementation of alcohol exclusion zone for Cullercoats bay beach will get underway this month.
North Tyneside Council is aiming to have the orders, which give police additional powers to clampdown on alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour, in place prior to the busy summer season.
The action is in response to a 1,200 named petition presented to the Council by residents of the area.
Statutory notices, publishing details of the scheme proposed, will be posted in the local press from March 25, 2009
Subject to no objections being received during the 28-day period the new legal order will be in place from May 1.
Elected Mayor, John Harrison said: "As a borough we are at the forefront in tackling anti-social behaviour and particularly problems associated with alcohol.
"We want North Tyneside to be a place where people can enjoy our public open spaces without having to put up with unreasonable behaviour fuelled by alcohol.
"Residents of Cullercoats have told us this is not the case in their neighbourhood so after consultation with Police we are pleased to be able to respond by implementing an alcohol exclusion zone.
"The order provides police with additional powers, allowing them to intervene at an early stage and confiscate alcohol where it is considered as likely to result in anti-social behaviour."
The creation of an alcohol exclusion zone will allow police to order people to stop drinking in the area or to confiscate containers containing - or believed to contain - alcohol.
Failure to do so can result in a £50 fixed penalty notice, arrest, or even a fine of up to £500 if a person is prosecuted.
Police believe there have been infrequent instances over recent summers of limited drunkenness on the coastal beaches in North Tyneside. Cullercoats has been subject to this behaviour, possibly because of its proximity to a Metro station, which enables large numbers of people to travel into North Tyneside. Police are happy to work with the council and local residents to explore all potential solutions to this problem, including supporting this alcohol exclusion zone.
Chief Superintendent Ralph Logan said: "We have listened to local residents around Cullercoats and to support them, and to ensure the beaches in the area can be enjoyed by all, we support the council's plans to designate the area as an Alcohol Exclusion Zone."
A plan showing the designated alcohol exclusion zone can be inspected at the offices of Head of Legal and Democratic Services at North Tyneside Council, Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY during office hours (8.30am - 5pm Monday to Thursday; and 8.30am to 4.30pm Fridays).
Any objections or comments to the proposal should be in writing and forwarded to Head of Legal and Democratic Services, North Tyneside Council, Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY.
Information for Editors
North Tyneside Council introduced its first alcohol exclusion zones in July 2003 for Marden Quarry Park, Benton Quarry Park, Richardson Dees Park, Preston cemetery and Tynemouth Front Street.
Since then it has been extended to include parks, cemeteries, playgrounds, public open spaces and other areas identified by the public as prone to alcohol related anti-social behaviour.