East Lothian Courier | News | Towns say cheers to public drinking bylaws

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 10:00

Towns say cheers to public drinking bylaws

DESPITE previous police calls for a blanket ban on public outdoor drinking in East Lothian, councillors have bowed to community pressure and allowed the practice to continue in several communities.

In a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour, police had wanted new council bylaws on drinking in public to completely prohibit the consumption of alcohol from open containers in designated public places in the county.

Such bylaws already exist in many towns and villages, though some communities are not included in the public drinking ban at all, while others have the bylaws but have exemptions for special occasions such as gala days and Hogmanay.

The previous council ruled last March that these exemptions would only be annulled where there was community support for such action.

And, at a meeting last Tuesday, members of the new East Lothian Council agreed to include exemptions in the new bylaws.

Tranent Community Council and Dunbar Community Council, for instance, both supported public drinking bylaws to be introduced in their areas for the first time, but neither wanted the ban to include Hogmanay.

The Tranent group, admitted the local authority, felt “particularly strongly” about the matter and now they and their counterparts in Dunbar have secured concessions.

On the recommendation of the local authority’s legal department, Tranent’s exemption will be implemented between 6pm on December 31 and 6am on January 1.

Within Dunbar, West Barns and John Muir Country Park, the exemption will apply between 10pm and 7am on the above dates.

Depute council leader, Councillor Stuart Currie said: “It’s absolutely right that community councils have been consulted but ultimately the proof is in the pudding.

“And I would welcome any feedback from community councillors or Lothian and Borders Police in terms of whether the exemptions have made a difference.”

County police chiefs had previously warned that the current bylaws on public drinking – with bans in some communities, but not others, and different exemptions– caused public confusion and were difficult to police.

But their wish for a uniform system has not been granted (see list on right of page).

Before the process is finalised, members of the public have 28 days to lodge any objections.

Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council welcomed the council’s decision.

“This is great news,” said chairman Raymond Strang. “And it will, of course, give police greater powers when they spot someone with an open container in Tranent.”

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