COMMUNITY groups are to be consulted on the introduction of a by-law aimed at ridding a town centre of its "Wild West" image.

But one borough councillor is warning against the area becoming a "nanny state."

Clitheroe residents told a packed public meeting last year that boozy youngsters were descending on the town centre at weekends and making their lives a misery.

They called on council officers to investigate the introduction of a by-law banning drinking in the streets.

But the investigations have failed to prove the problems are a direct result of the drinking. Residents told last year's meeting that town centre revellers were urinating through letter boxes, smashing windows and "turning Clitheroe into a Wild West town."

Hundreds were gathering at a taxi rank in King Lane and bus stop in Lowergate, leaving a trail of broken glass and bottles .

Ribble Valley Council policy and finance committee heard the results of the study were now available.

The council's legal director, Paul Timson, said: "Before the Home Office would consider confirming a by-law to control drinking in the streets, it insists on a study being carried out over a six-month period into problems associated with drinking. "Clitheroe police have provided me with an analysis of incidents reported in the town centre during a period last year.

"Most occurred at weekends in the early evening and involved vehicle damage, damage to buildings and wounding.

"But none can be directly linked to drinking in the streets.

"The police have also confirmed that they received no specific complaints about town centre drinking during the period in question." It was questionable whether the Home Office would consider the introduction of the bye-law on the available evidence, he told the meeting.

But councillors supported his recommendation to consult local organisations and community groups on the matter.

Coun Stephen Sutcliffe said it was the council's duty to protect the quality of life of people living in the town centre.

"We have a problem and we should be doing something about it," he said.

But Coun Harry Backhouse claimed the borough was becoming a "nanny valley," where residents were told "what to do and where to go."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.