Up to £500 fine for drinking in public
Residents in Twerton have been given the go-ahead to make the area an alcohol-free zone after the council received complaints from concerned locals. Twerton has been given a public spaces protection order from Bath and North East Somerset Council, banning people from drinking alcohol in public. Anyone who ignores the order which states it is an offence to drink alcohol in public - could be issued with a fine of up to £500. Councillor Tim Ball and local campaigner Sarah Moore campaigned to Bath and North East Somerset to get the order following numerous complaints from local residents over people drinking and acting inappropriately under the influence of alcohol. They were successful in their campaign and managed to get the agreement from the council and police confirming the street as a ‘family friendly environment’ with a public spaces protection order now in place. The sign, which was put up on Sunday September 30, reads: “It is an offence in the area to: continue to drink alcohol or anything reasonably believed to be alcohol; and/or fail to surrender alcohol or a container for alcohol “When asked to do so by a police officer or other authorised officer. “You may be issued with a fixed penalty notice if you commit an offence.” Mr Ball said: “I was pleased to be able to arrange for these signs and it is yet another step towards the Liberal Democrats helping to return Twerton to a family friendly community again.”