Published: Thursday, 10th December, 2009 5:00am

Drinking ban ballot

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VILLAGERS in Gifford are being urged to take part in a community council ballot on police proposals to ban outdoor drinking in the village.

Gifford Community Council had previously agreed, in principle, to a ban being put in place, despite group chairman John O'Connor threatening to resign if the proposal was given the green light.

However, the community council was forced to rethink its position when around 10 residents attended the group's November meeting in protest at the proposed ban.

Mr O'Connor has previously argued that a ban on consuming alcohol outdoors - and carrying open containers of alcohol in public - would be damaging to Gifford's reputation as a popular, attractive tourist spot in East Lothian.

He told the Courier: "It is felt that given the number of people who came along to last month's meeting that there was a need for us to investigate further whether the community supported a ban or not.

"There are a number of reasons, in my opinion, that a ban should not go ahead and some of those views were shared by those members of the public who attended the meeting.

"The community council had also been under the impression that Gifford would be almost unique in the area, if we did not have a drinks ban, and that this could result in us attracting drinkers from other areas which could lead to anti-social behaviour.

"I have since discovered that none of the hillfoot villages such as Pencaitland, East and West Saltoun, Garvald and Stenton have such bans, and I am informed by their respective community council chairmen or other office bearers, that they are not considering them.

"It therefore wouldn't be right for us to make a decision on behalf of the community if that is against the public's wishes."

All residents are now being invited to take part in a ballot organised by the community council - the group has included a consultation leaflet outlining the proposal in the Gifford Newsletter, delivered to every household in the village this month, and which features a reply slip asking the reader whether or not they support a ban being implemented.

Completed slips should be placed inside a ballot box in 1st Kilts on Gifford's Main Street.

All entries must be by submitted by 4pm on February 20, when the ballot box will be taken to Gifford Village Hall where a count will then be conducted in public and the result declared.

The ban will also be discussed and debated at a special meeting of the community council at 7.30pm on February 9 in the village hall.

The community council will make its final decision at its March 8 meeting.