A BOROUGH-WIDE order will be introduced to tackle street drinking – and calls have been made for one to combat problems associated with laughing gas.

A report came before full council during its meeting at the Parr Hall on Monday.

It advised members on the proposal to reintroduce a borough-wide public spaces protection order (PSPO), which replaces the previous one put in place in October 2017.

It will be reintroduced with an amendment to reflect that the maximum fine will be at level three, rather than level two.

A breach of the PSPO can be dealt with through a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or a level three fine, £1,000, on prosecution.

The council says the reintroduction of the order will re-establish the powers used within a designated area to tackle street-drinking, where it is having a detrimental effect to those in the area. These powers will allow a police officer, PCSO or an authorised council officer to require a person to not consume alcohol in that place and surrender alcohol in their possession.

Councillors voted for the PSPO to be adopted, with the order amended to including a level three fine instead of level two. A key aim of it is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Hitesh Patel (LAB – Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall), cabinet member for environment, housing and public protection, said there is a problem in Warrington with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Wendy Maisey (CON – Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft) said the Tories very much welcome the proposal but asked whether legal highs and laughing gas canisters should be included as well.

Cllr Patel said Cllr Maisey raised a valid point, adding if the data shows there is a particular problem with such highs he is sure the police and council would work together to address it.

The council says the outcome of the consultation on the PSPO showed a significant majority of respondents backed the need to continue with such control and were in favour of it being borough-wide.

After the meeting, Cllr Patel said: "Increasing the maximum fines to level three shows that this Labour council is determined to do all we can make our town as safe as it can be. While most alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour occurs in the town centre, this is a problem for all parts of Warrington.

"This will hopefully mean less instances of our already stretched police officers and PCSOs being called into the town centre and more time for them to be out in the community, in wards like my own Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall ward, where over the last six weeks I have received numerous complaints about anti-social behaviour."