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Feature: Booze ban call
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 19th Jul 2001.
VANDALISM by under-age drinkers has led to calls for a ban on public drinking in Calne.
Phil Thomas, the secretary of the Calne and District Licensed Houses Association, says a ban similar to the one in Devizes would be the only way to curb teenage drunkeness.
Mr Thomas said about 300 teenagers congregate outside the town's recreation club on Friday and Saturday nights, many drinking alcohol illegally.
Residents living nearby have also complained that their cars have been vandalised and hundreds of pounds of damage caused by drunken teenagers late at night.
Mr Thomas, 53, manager of the recreation club, in Anchor Road, said the volume of youngsters creates an intimidating atmosphere.
He said he would like to know how the children are getting the alcohol and believes a blanket ban on drinking in public is the only way to stop youngsters drinking and protect their health.
"It may not seem a realistic aim at the moment but we have to try, before things get really out of hand," said Mr Thomas.
In Devizes, the town council and Kennet District Council introduced a ban on drinking in public places more than three years ago.
The ban includes the whole of the town centre and places such as St John's Churchyard and Devizes School campus.
Mr Thomas said some landlords have already been approached about the idea and, if they support it, petitions will be left at each pub in the town asking Calne Town Council and North Wiltshire District Council to impose a public drinking ban.
"The police have been patrolling up here regularly on a Friday and Saturday night since Easter and have confiscated quite a few bottles from kids but I think it is hard for them to know what more to do," added Mr Thomas.
He said he does not want to shift the youngsters away from the recreation club but wants to ensure there are none drinking anywhere in Calne.
"We wouldn't mind them being here if they behaved themselves, but they don't," said Mr Thomas.
"Three weeks ago a broken alcohol bottle was thrown into the children's play area and we had a toddler come in with a cut hand.
"Other times they have thrown bottles in to the tennis courts.
"We do not sell the alcohol to the youngsters, yet our own trade is beginning to suffer as a result of our regulars being scared away from our premises."
Lilian Macgregor-Fairlie, 54, of Audly Road, Calne, said she has had to spend £800 repairing her VW Golf after a series of attacks, including a smashed back window, a cracked front window, and damage to the side of it.
"It's getting really bad down here and this used to be a nice area," said Mrs Macgregor-Fairlie.
"You cannot say for sure that it is the kids but if you say anything to them when they do they run off and you get swear words all the time."
She said her ex-husband and son have also suffered damage to their cars in the street and she believes teenagers hanging around the Recreation Club are responsible.
Ben Hughes, Wiltshire County Council's Drug Action Team Co-ordinator, said he was aware of a problem with under-age people drinking alcohol but said it was not confined to Calne.
He said the amount of young people drinking alcohol in Calne was representative of a problem throughout Wiltshire.
Mr Hughes pointed out measures are being taken to outlaw under-age drinking.
He said the county council's trading standards and the West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership had launched a proof of age scheme, which is being implemented throughout the region.
Anyone between 12 and 18 attempting to buy alcohol must produce a proof of age card if they are asked by a licensee .
Sergeant Richard Ball, of Calne police, said the police are aware of a problem with under-age people drinking alcohol.
Following complaints police have put under-age drinking at the top of their hit list.
He said patrols of the recreation ground and other areas where teenagers are known to congregate have been increased.
"This is what we do and at the moment under-age drinking is our top priority," said Sgt Ball.
"Children in this town know we are around, they know we will be back, and they know we will take alcohol off them if we see fit."
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