No contradictionin alcohol stance

Since its publication, a number of people have contacted me querying a perceived contradiction in my stance on this and on alcohol in general.

Please allow me to clarify my position. Put simply, in politics as in life as a whole context is everything.

The now notorious soundbite likening Trowbridge at night to Ibiza was made in passing in a detailed and reasoned speech at central area committee opposing the application for a Trowbridge club to extend its hours to 3am. I saw this as a precedent and that all clubs and pubs in the town with late licences would then want the same hours. In opposing the application, I was supporting the local police, as was the majority of the committee. The application was refused.

Now, in arguing against a bylaw banning drinking in the streets in Trowbridge, I have not changed my position. I am not saying that there is no problem of under-age drinking, rather, that such a by-law is a very complicated and costly process and that it is unlikely to solve the problem.

Under-age drinking obviously does take place and so does much of the trouble caused by this such as vandalism. Yet it does not necessarily always happen on the streets, but often in all manner of out of the way places. Often it does not take place in the town centre, but the drinkers subsequently come into town once they are truly tanked up.

To pass a bylaw and thinking that by doing so you have solved the problem is to only invite disillusionment as the problem continues.

More responsible parenting, better adult role models, more imaginative youth work, mentoring, more resources for policing, CCTV, a wider choice of leisure facilities, a more meaningful civic culture and generally a more sensible attitude to alcohol may all sound rather boring less likely to inspire a reported soundbite but in the long-term they will probably be more effective than knee-jerk alcohol bans.

JEFF OSBORN,

Town and District Councillor,

Chepston Place,

Trowbridge.