CONCERN has been raised over the planned booze ban in Royston town centre and the Priory Memorial Gardens. Cllr Rod Kennedy was worried about the effect the ban would have on areas outside the designated alcohol -free zone. He told Royston Town Council's

CONCERN has been raised over the planned booze ban in Royston town centre and the Priory Memorial Gardens. Cllr Rod Kennedy was worried about the effect the ban would have on areas outside the designated alcohol -free zone. He told Royston Town Council's finance and general purposes committee on Monday evening: "I don't know why they can't extend it to cover the whole area of the town. It will hopefully solve the Priory Memorial Gardens problem, but it may just move it." But Cllr Bill Davidson, chairman of North Herts' District Council's Royston area committee, who attended the meeting, said that the area covered was chosen because it was the focus of anti-social behaviour. "I can hear what Cllr Kennedy is saying, but initially the alcohol-free zone was brought in because of the vandalism and the graffiti that was going on in the Priory Memorial Gardens area," he said. "The residents had one hell of a time and that's why it was brought in." Cllr Mike Harrison was concerned that the Royston May Fayre could be affected as it usually includes a beer tent erected in the Priory Memorial Gardens. But he was told that a temporary public entertainment licence would allow alcohol to be consumed in the area on specific occasions. It is understood that police will use their discretion when the ban is introduced. Police are currently looking into methods for implementing the booze ban. District councillors are expected to approve the ban at a meeting of the full council on February 9.