DRINKING in public places could soon be banned in three Ribble Valley centres.

The move has come from Ribble Valley Borough Council, supported by police, to restrict anti-social drinking in public areas of Clitheroe, Longridge and Whalley using new powers in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

It could see drinkers facing arrest if they fail to comply with police.

Under the Act, local authorities can apply to place a restriction on drinking in certain public places, like town centres where drinkers have been a nuisance to the public, or where disorder offences are committed, and would give police the power to stop people from drinking in these areas.

Now the council hopes to hold a consultation exercise among all Ribble Valley parish and town councils, licensees and landowners, who could be affected by the designated area boundaries, to gauge opinion.

Insp Bob Ford of Clitheroe police has given his backing to the scheme and has suggested all public places within Clitheroe and Longridge town centres and Whalley village centre should become designated areas.

And Chief Insp Neil Smith of Lancashire Constabulary's eastern division said: "I am happy to support the council's wish to exercise their powers under the Act, particularly in relation to Clitheroe Castle grounds and town centre.

"This legislation will support on-going crime and disorder initiatives, particularly in the cases of town centre disorder and anti-social behaviour."

In a report to the council's policy and finance committee last night, director of legal services Paul Timson said: "The consultation should not only include the question of whether it is appropriate to make an order but also, if it is, the precise boundaries of the area which the order should cover."

All landlords in Clitheroe and Whalley town centre pubs have already joined together under the Pubwatch scheme to monitor the behaviour of pub customers and can bar anyone who has committed an act of violence in any of the town centre pubs.

It is hoped that the curbing of street drinking will have a knock-on effect to lowering incidents of criminal damage and vehicle crime committed in town centre areas.

This weekend alone, vandals caused £1,000 worth of damage after jumping on the roof of a car parked in Woone Lane, Clitheroe, over night Friday to Saturday.

And an £800 plate glass window was smashed at Alan's Decorators in Wesleyan Row, Clitheroe, at around midnight on Friday. A window frame at the Citizens Advice Bureau office, also on Wesleyan Row, was also damaged.

Members of the committee gave their full support for a consultation exercise to bring the designated areas into force.

Simonstone councillor Richard Hill added that he hoped the scheme would be widened to cover other villages in the Ribble Valley.