Published: Thursday, 18th March, 2010 7:00am

Villagers oppose outdoor alcohol ban

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VILLAGERS in Gifford who took part in a poll to gauge community support for an outdoor public drinking ban have shown overwhelming opposition to the proposal.

More than 200 residents took part in the survey, organised by Gifford Community Council and delivered to every household in the village.

Residents were asked whether they supported or opposed Lothian and Borders Police proposals to introduce a blanket ban on drinking alcohol in outdoor public places across East Lothian.

John O'Connor, chair of the community council, had argued that imposing a drinking ban in Gifford would ruin the village's reputation as a popular, attractive tourist spot in East Lothian and be unfair to the majority of people who behaved sensibly when consuming alcohol in public.

Though the local watchdog group had initially backed the public alcohol ban plans - with Mr O'Connor threatening to resign from his position if members approved a ban - it was forced to rethink its views and stage the public consultation after a group of residents attended a meeting last November to oppose such a bylaw.

In total, 177 people (79 per cent) voted against a ban with 46 backing the proposal.

The results were discussed at last Monday's meeting of the community council.

There, it was unanimously agreed that the group would contact East Lothian Council, rejecting any proposal for a drinking bylaw to be put in place.