ADZ 'may draw yobs to pubs'
A council chief has slated plans for an alcohol disorder zone (ADZ) in Plymouth, which would see pubs forced to pay to clear up alcohol related problems.
Pubs forced to payCity councillors are considering an ADZ - which would see pubs forced to pay to clear up alcohol-related problems - as an alternative to restricting new pub openings through a saturation zone.
ADZ "Brand"Robin Carton, assistant head of the council's environmental regulation service, told the council's scrutiny panel:"It's argued that, if you actually brand an area as an ADZ, it will look bad on Plymouth and it may invite people of that nature to visit the area to create a bit of disorder."
Last restorLocal Labour MP Linda Gilroy told councillors that an ADZ should be considered as a "last resort". But she added:"There will need to be a lot of effort on the part of the parties concerned [to reduce alcohol-related problems] - the local authority, the police, the businesses and residents."
ADZs are proposed in the Tackling Violent Crime Bill, which is due to reach its report stage when Parliament's summer break ends on 9 October.
No timetableA Home Office spokeswoman said there is no timetable for the bill to be passed because it depends on when Parliamentary time can be allocated.
Your comments
Robert Feal-Martinez via email, 08/09/2006ADZ's were of course another Government knee jerk reaction to disguise the fact that LA's, the Police, the Magistrates encouraged by Government got it wrong when they created Entertainment zones.
It was Rocket Science to realise you put too many Licensed premises together in a small area they would become difficult to handle. The lack of proper coherent policing and LA direction is the problem, not individual licensees, by all means refuse town centre licenses there are clearly too many, but don't penalise those already innocently trading because of Political bungling.
