Crackdown on street-drinking could be rolled out to Woodford
South Woodford station - Credit: Archant
Efforts to tackle street-drinking could be rolled out to Woodford following the success of a crackdown in Ilford.
Cabinet member for community safety and enforcement Cllr Ross Hatfull said it was a “growing problem” near South Woodford Tube station.
“Residents have been raising concerns about street-drinking,” he told the Recorder. “We are now looking at doing very similar things around there to take action, as we have taken in the town centre.”
And Cllr Tom McLaren (Con, Church End) said Conservative councillors were “extremely supportive” of the initiative.
“There are a lot of issues that need to be dealt with and it’s not going to be done overnight,” he said. “The people we are dealing with are the hardcore – they are not the easy people to reach. They are people who have made a lifestyle choice.”
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Last year the Church End Conservative Action Team launched a campaign for George Lane, High Street and surrounding streets to be made a designated controlled drinking zone, which would give police further powers to confiscate alcohol.
The area has already been designated a cumulative impact zone, granting the council more say in deciding on licensing applications.
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Cllr McLaren urged residents and shopkeepers to report incidents to police on 101 or the council’s anti-social behaviour hotline on 020 8478 4679.
Cllr Hatfull (Lab, Valentines) said the authority would also be looking to work with shops in the area to ban the sale of super-strength alcohol.
His comments come following a scheme launched by police and the council in Ilford town centre in August. Shopkeepers in parts of Cranbrook Road agreed to stop selling high-strength beer, lager and cider from August 19. The ban included drinks with more than 6.5 per cent alcohol.
