Marshals to help drinkers ‘act sensibly’

NIGHT marshals are set to patrol Staple Hill and Thornbury on weekends to make sure drinkers do not breach coronavirus rules.

South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed the move after introducing the same scheme in Kingswood and Chipping Sodbury in August.

The council will deploy marshals in Staple Hill and Thornbury on Friday and Saturday evenings.

They will encourage punters to act “sensibly” and identify those breaking restrictions on gatherings so they can be stopped from buying more alcohol in shops.

Last week, the Post reported on residents’ claims of regular drunken night-time violence on Staple Hill High Street.

The council emailed local councillors last week: “There is some evidence to suggest that the new rule to close pubs at 10pm is resulting in larger volumes of people on the street in one fell swoop, which is giving rise to problems.

“We have agreed with our providers, Safe & Sound, to supply marshals on Friday and Saturday nights in Staple Hill and Thornbury High Street.”

The council initially said it aimed to have the marshals operational from tonight, but it has since said it “may not be possible” to have them in place as soon as this weekend.

It has yet to reveal the hours the new marshals will be in place, or how many of them there will be.

Councillor Ian Boulton, who represents Staple Hill and Mangotsfield: “I haven’t heard of a great deal of argy bargy, but there have been some reports of people not respecting social distancing.”