Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is to discuss an order which would see drinking alcohol banned in Biddulph town centre.

The council's Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee will meet on Monday (1st February) to discuss proposals to implement a new Public Spaces Protection Order in Biddulph town centre, as well as the town centres in Cheadle and Leek.

The order, which would prohibit consuming alcohol or carrying an unsealed container of alcohol in any of the three town centres, has been recommended for approval in an effort to combat anti-social behaviour in the towns.

A report prepared for councillors ahead of the meeting states: "The consumption of alcohol in Leek, Biddulph and Cheadle town centres can result in increased anti-social behaviour and may lead to other more serious criminal offences."

A Public Spaces Protection Order was already implemented in Biddulph in 2017, which empowered a constable or authorised person to require a person to stop drinking alcohol or confiscate their alcohol, but this order expired in November 2020.

If the council were to approve the order as recommended, it would first also need to carry out consultation, publication and notification before the order could be introduced. The order would then last for a maximum of three years.

The consumption of alcohol would still be permitted on licensed premises and clubs within the town centre, and areas within their curtilage.

Anyone who refused to comply with the order would be committing an offence, which they could be convicted and fined for.

To view the meeting's documents in full, visit the district council's website here.