Police are not using a new order brought in to give them extra powers to deal with troublesome drinkers in Llandrindod Wells’ town parks, the town council fears.
They are also concerned that the drink-related problems seem to be spreading to other areas in the town, particularly the Rock Park, the Lake Park and even the War Memorial.
The Designated Public Places Order was introduced on August 1 to give police the power to demand that troublemakers on Temple and Memorial Gardens stop drinking and seize their alcohol.
But at a Llandrindod Wells Town Council meeting on Tuesday, members said they were concerned that there have been no prosecutions or implementation of the order.
Some members spoke of continuing drinking in the town centre, abuse – and even a serious assault on the first day the order came into being.
The new Mayor, Councillor Tony Phillips, claimed that on the first day there were about nine people around the Bandstand on Temple Gardens and a serious assault took place.
He said on Tuesday morning at 9.30am he had witnessed three people carrying plastic bags containing six-packs of lager, near the town hall.
Councillor Gary Price said he had heard complaints about drinking at the Chalybeate Spring in the Rock Park, but he had not seen it himself even though he walked through at least once a day and had spoken to nearby residents.
But Councillor Hilary Macaulay said she had spoken to the man who cleaned up the rubbish at the Rock Park and he said there had been an increase in rubbish there since the order came in.
The town clerk said the drinkers had been meeting at the War Memorial but had been moved on, and they also tended to congregate by the Radnorshire Museum and toilet block and the wooden bridge in the Memorial Gardens.
Councillor Sheila Richards said that on two afternoons this week drinkers had been up at the Lake Park near the children’s play area, and Councillor Eddie Williams said there were smashed bottles at the football pavilion and broken glass has had to be cleared off the pitch before a game could start.
“I was one of the people that pushed for this law and I am very disappointed that I am still seeing people drinking in these areas. It comes down to our Police Community Support Officers being in cars instead of on foot, as well as the regular police.
“They have to clamp down on this. We have the law in place – use it.”
Councillor Phillips agreed, but said a law or a control order was only ever effective if it was implemented.
Members agreed to write to Dyfed Powys Police to express their concerns that there have been no prosecutions or implementation of the order, and they asked for evidence that officers have attended incidents.
They will also express their concern that the drinking problem is spreading to other parts of the town.