Alcohol Ban in Luss.

[Annie]

Alcohol ban bid to target Bonnie Banks 'ned culture' Thursday May 4, 03:00 AM

THOUSANDS of tourists and weekend sunseekers may find themselves banned from enjoying a glass of wine on the banks of Loch Lomond following a controversial move to fight anti- social behaviour.

Local residents in Luss, Argyll and Bute, are pressing for a by-law banning the consumption of alcohol in and around the town as part of an effort to tackle drunken hooligans who flock to the area during the spring and summer.

But any by-law would also affect the estimated 600,000 people who visit the picturesque town each year - many of them day-trippers from Glasgow. The ban, which local campaigners claim has the support of the majority of Luss households, moved a step closer yesterday when the council confirmed it would be producing a draft by-law in relation to it.

The move is the culmination of four years of campaigning to outlaw drinking in public places, which locals claim is a major factor in fuelling the trouble they face night and day. Local police have attended 39 incidents in the town's pier and shore area in the past eight months alone.

Residents say that they have been faced with drunken groups eight or nine strong, with reports of one youth wandering naked and inebriated around the town centre, while others damage camping spots.

The local community council chairman, Tom Chalmers, said residents were willing to sacrifice the freedom to drink for the good of the community. He said: "If people aren't allowed to sit on the beach and have a drink, then that's what's going to have to happen. There's too much damage being done and there won't be a tourist business if we don't do something.

"But nobody is going to report somebody for sitting on the beach having a glass of wine with a barbecue. It's when you've got them sitting on the pier at Luss with a massive carry-out and they're diving off the pier among the boats, shouting and swearing, lying in the middle of the village drunk. Basically it's the ned culture. It's about deterring them from coming here.

Ian McEachern, chairman of the Luss and Arden Community Development Trust, said: "The problem comes in two areas. At the pier in good weather large groups of youngsters appear.

"Residents dread a summer weekend; it is frightening."

Local councillors have given the ban the green light.

It will now be debated at a full meeting of the council before being passed to the Executive for final approval.

A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: "Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee has agreed to proceed with the proposed by-law prohibiting consumption of alcohol within the environs of Luss village.

"This approval forms part of a process and other steps are required prior to requesting approval of the by-law from the Scottish Executive.

"This includes placing a draft by-law before the Council for approval and carrying out public consultation."

By: CRAIG BROWN -- 04-May-06

[daftdog]

Residents say that they have been faced with drunken groups eight or nine strong, with reports of one youth wandering naked and inebriated around the town centre, while others damage camping spots.

If this was happening in my neighbourhood, i would be pushing for a ban as well.. Glasgow has many beautifull parks etc, and consuming alcohol in public is banned there... so if its good enough for the weegies, it good enough for the Luss folk..

Good luck to them

[Annie]

Ye are right Daft Dog! But the article also said:

"But nobody is going to report somebody for sitting on the beach having a glass of wine with a barbecue.

So, I don't think they are putting up a BAN, per se, jees fer the eejits on the pier!!!!!!!

[daftdog]

Ye are right Daft Dog! But the article also said:

"But nobody is going to report somebody for sitting on the beach having a glass of wine with a barbecue.

So, I don't think they are putting up a BAN, per se, jees fer the eejits on the pier!!!!!!!

They can't just ban it on the pier as the eejits will just move elsewhere and they can't just ban certain groups, because as long as they are over 18, they can claim discrimination if the "wino's" on the beach are not pulled up as well. The eejits will report the beach drinkers etc, as soon as they are pulled up themselves. They might even have the sense to do thier drinking on the very same beach, so the polis would have no option but to stop all the drinkers..

A ban is a ban... no exceptions.

A way round it is to issue some sort of licence for properly organised barbeques etc limiting the total quantity of alcohol to be consumed