A COUNCIL is proposing to renew orders controlling public boozing in five town centres.

They apply in Colne, Nelson, Earby, Barnoldswick and Barrowford.

The five separate Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) were made in October 2017 and run out after three years.

On Thursday night members of Pendle Council’s Policy and Resources Committee will be asked to start the process of renewing them as a single order.

The move has been welcomed by Colne councillors Lord Tony Greaves and Sarah Cockburn-Price who has called for an increased focus on drug-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

In a report borough corporate director Philip Mousdale tells the senior councillors: "The single alcohol control PSPO will enable the council and its partners to respond to concerns regarding alcohol related behaviour that is detrimental to the quality of life in town centres and some parks in Pendle including enforcement action.

"Between 2004 and 2010 Pendle Council made five designated public protection orders in relation to the control of alcohol in Colne, Nelson, Earby, Barnoldswick and Barrowford.

"The orders rather than banning the carrying or consumption of alcohol in public places, enable the police to do this with individuals they identified as causing alcohol related crime or disorder. Enforcement is a matter solely for the police.

"PSPOs have a limited duration of no more than three years. As a result, the five alcohol control orders need to be reviewed in 2020 and either extended or allowed to lapse.

"Consultation is ongoing on whether the PSPOs should be extended or allowed to lapse. Barrowford Parish Council; Colne and Earby Town Councils; the police and the fire service favour an extension.

"Although the orders are not well used in terms of enforcement they are seen to have a significant deterrent effect on alcohol-related nuisance in town centres and the parks where they apply."

Boulsworth ward Conservative Cllr Cockburn-Price said: "I welcome this but public drinking is not the only problem in Colne town centre.

"The has been a big increase in the public taking of illegal drugs fuelling anti-social behaviour. I hope the new neighbourhood policing team head by a sergeant, which starts in September, will focus on that."

Waterside ward Democrat Lord Greaves said: "If these orders have deterred public drunkenness and anti social behaviour in Colne and the other town centres, it seems sensible to renew them.

"In Colne we did not want to ban public drinking outright because of the Blues Festival. This was a sensible compromise."