Islington Tribune - News: Ban drinkers from park

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 20 April 2007

Cllr Greg Foxsmith

‘Ban drinkers from park’

Police call for powers to prevent young mothers feeling intimidated

DRINKERS who intimidate mothers with young children could soon be ordered out of an Archway park.
Islington Council has decided to take action following complaints by users of Elthorne Park, off Hornsey Road.
Residents say that on sunny days there are so many drinkers that the park becomes a “no-go area” for others.
Under plans for a controlled drinking zone, police would have discretionary powers to move drinkers on when they are gathered in large numbers.
Currently, police have no powers to remove drinkers from the park unless they are being a nuisance or committing an offence.
Under the proposal, police would liaise with social workers to ensure heavy drinkers are given support.
Shops would also be targeted after claims that many drinkers set up a booze tab as soon as they receive their benefit cheques.
Residents’ action group Elthorne Park Life is promoting the initiative after carrying out a detailed survey of users of the park.
One of the members, Lib Dem councillor Greg Foxsmith, believes Elthorne Park may have the borough’s biggest group of drinkers.
He fears the problem will become worse as more people take to the parks with drink when the ban on smoking in enclosed spaces comes into effect in July.
“Park users, particularly mothers with children, have told us they feel very intimidated by the large numbers of drinkers,” Cllr Foxsmith said.
“Perhaps the biggest mystery is why so many drinkers want to congregate in this particular park in the first place.”
On Monday, 25 drinkers were taking up benches around the park.
Although they did not interfere with other users, residents said they felt “uneasy” because the drinkers’ behaviour tended to be “unpredictable”.
Cllr Foxsmith’s biggest concern is the ornate Peace Garden, inside the park, where drug addicts can find seclusion.
A mother walking through the garden with her children came across a couple having sex one morning.
Cllr Foxsmith added that one option would be to open the peace garden up by removing a western wall so drinkers and drug takers could not hide, and to introduce CCTV surveillance.
“Obviously, we don’t want to target a family who have a bottle of wine with their picnic,” Cllr Foxsmith added.
“But we have to draw the line when drinkers start to outnumber other park users.
I’ve never had a problem with the drinkers, but then I’m not a mother on her own with children.
“There’s a large playground in the park and areas to play but many mothers find the atmosphere intimidating.”

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