Plans to crack down on anti-social behaviour and ban drinking in part of Chandlers Ford

Civic chiefs are taking action to make part of Chandler’s Ford an alcohol-free zone.

It comes after a traders and shoppers got fed up with group of people getting drunk and urinating in public.

Now Eastleigh Borough Council has revealed plans to launch a scheme aimed at tackling drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

The authority is calling on business owners, residents and shoppers to have their say in a consultation on whether Chandler’s Ford shopping area should be a ‘drink-free’ zone after incidents involving homeless people in the area.

It comes after a councillor said that the community suffered when a group of people started sleeping rough in shop doorways around the Fryern Arcade last summer.

According to Chandler’s Ford West councillor Alan Broadhurst, a small group were drinking and sleeping rough by the arcade and their behaviour was “concerning” residents who reported issues when children and parents were on their way to school in the morning.

Cllr Broadhurst, who is also the vice chair for Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, confirmed the council attempted to work with the group to get them help and they have since moved on.

He said these homeless people are now being helped by their local authorities, but the council wants to bring in a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to put resident’s minds at rest.

He said: “Last summer there was a group of people that started sleeping rough and were under the influence of alcohol. They were not our local authority’s responsibility so we were trying to help them but it was causing a concern for residents in the area.

“We feel it’s a good idea to have something in place in case anti-social behaviour does cause concern again. It’s not right for residents, especially children, on their way to school to feel worried if there is anti-social behaviour and this order would give us and the police the powers to be able to deal with it immediately.”

The consultation will run until July 11 and the council has confirmed it is linked to anti-social behaviour from a group of daytime drinkers in recent months which caused “growing concern” for retailers and shoppers.

According to the council incidents of drunkenness and urinating in public were reported by members of the public visiting the Chandler’s Ford area.

Now business-owners, landlords, shoppers, community representatives and residents are being asked to share their views on the introduction of a PSPO.

Chair of the Eastleigh Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Tonia Craig, said: “The partnership was set up to ensure that issues like anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol are tackled effectively. We are keen local residents and businesses, as well as visitors give us their views on the proposed no drinking zone to give us a clear idea of how they perceive the problem. We can then determine whether a PSPO is needed.”

The order could see a ban on drinking on the streets off the main Winchester Road and around Fryern Arcade.

If approved this PSPO would create a “no drinking zone” (below) in Chandler’s Ford town centre which would give police and council officers the power to ask individuals to stop drinking and confiscate alcoholic drinks if they are causing or are likely to cause anti-social behaviour.

A spokesman for the council said that the PSPO is not uncommon in the area, with Eastleigh town centre being given Designated Public Place Orders in 2008.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, Southampton City Council approved a PSPO to tackle begging in five areas of the city in March this year which would see anyone breaching the order fined £100.

Steve Brine MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, below, said: “We have similar zones in the centre of Winchester and they send a message but are not a panacea.

"I welcome the consultation and see no harm in a PSPO for the area if there’s local support for one but it should in my view go hand in hand with education and outreach work through schools and even the nearby churches to address the underlying issues.”

Businesses in the area are split by the proposal.

Manager of The Halfway Inn, Abbey Baker said she was behind the idea “100 per cent.”

She said: “I’m not aware of any major anti-social behaviour issues but I think anything that would give residents the peace of mind that there is something in place to keep them safe is a good idea so I definitely support it.”

But Francis Akerman, manageress of the Flower Shop which has been in Fryern Aracade for 20 years said she thinks it’s a “waste of council time.”

She said: “There was a group of homeless people here that were causing problems but they have now gone and before that we had no trouble at all so I don’t see the need for it. It’s totally unnecessary.

“There is one homeless man who sleeps rough around here now but he is not threatening at all. I feel like a PSPO is just blowing everything out of proportion.”

Mum-of-two Ellie Martin, 32, from Eastleigh said: “I have heard about problems with homeless people and saw them sometimes when I would shop here but never felt threatened.

“It was very unusual for it to happen in Chandler’s Ford and they’re not here anymore so I think the council should spend time thinking about other community issues instead.”

Chairman of Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee Pam Holden Brown said: “There have been a number of recent concerns raised by local residents and businesses about anti-social drinking in and around Chandler’s Ford town centre. In partnership with Hampshire police we have undertaken a range of steps to tackle this issue and it was agreed that we would consult with residents and businesses about the possible introduction of a PSPO as an additional option for the Police to use in tackling this problem.”

After the consultation ends Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee will review the results and make a decision at a meeting on Wednesday, September 14.

To fill out a questionnaire, visit www.eastleigh.gov.uk/PSPO or email CommSafe@eastleigh.gov.uk.

To request a copy write to Community Safety, Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN or call 023 8068 8000.