Town centre much calmer at night

WARRINGTON’S 10-point plan for tackling the problems of alcohol and anti-social behaviour in the town centre is making progress in all areas, according to a senior councillor.
Bridge Street – generally regarded as the town’s late night black spot for drunkenness and disorder – is “much calmer”, according to Coun Liz Smith, (pictured) the borough council’s executive member for Neighbourhoods and Communities.
And as a bonus, litter problems have also been reduced.
Coun Smith gave a review of progress on the 10-point plan in response to questions asked at a meeting of the full council.
The plan was launched in February to start a public debate on what needed to be done to address issues of alcohol, disorder and crime.
Coun Smith said Lower Bridge Street was now closed to all vehicles overnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
As a result fewer incident had been reported and the overall atmosphere on the street was much calmer.
A trial of taxi marshals to help get people away at the end of the night had, unexpectedly, resulted in a reduction in litter around taxi queues the marshals were able to stop people dropping their food waste and wrappers.
Joint enforcement teams were now in place, with licensing, environmental health and trading standards officers working together with the police to clamp down on breaches of licences and take swift, targeted action against licensed premises.
Failure to have adequate CCTV or door staff had seen reviews triggered on several bars and clubs, with premises being closed down until breaches were remedied.
Licensing and legal teams had several major successes in defending appeals against closures or restrictions on licence conditions.
The licensing committee was receiving more data to assist them in dealing with applications.
Coun Smith said: “Over time, operators of licensed premises in Warrington have realised that we will take robust action against premises which don’t comply with the rules, even if this means places closing down permanently.”
Since April, police have issued 165 notices requiring drunken offenders to leave the town centre for a period of 24 hours.
The council is now, as part of a drive to change the culture of the town centre at night, developing a “Warrington at Night” strategy and will be looking at ways of recognising and rewarding those premises who do comply with the regulations and do offer a well-managed and pleasant night out.
Coun Smith added: “We are making real headway with other aspects of the plan and will shortly be launching a campaign in the run-up to Christmas to encourage responsible drinking and good behaviour on a night out, which we will develop in conjunction with young people from Warrington’s 6th forms and further education establishments.
“We know that there is still more to do to overcome some of the problems we have experienced, and to some extent continue to experience in Warrington at night, but we want to build on this initial success and learn from what is starting to work for us.”