The middle of Aberystwyth was “dominated by groups of drunken men” before an order banning public drinking, a councillor has said, as alcohol-free zones in three Ceredigion towns are expected to continue for a further three years despite police saying it was difficult to prove the restrictions “remained necessary and proportionate”.

There are currently three Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place in Ceredigion, covering the town centres of Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter, which allow the banning of drinking alcohol in designated public areas in order to address anti-social behaviour in public places.

Implementation of an order makes it an offence should a person fail to comply with a request from a police officer or an authorised officer to not consume alcohol, or refuses to surrender alcohol to the officer.

The three PSPOs in Ceredigion originally had a three-year provision and were due to expire in October 2020, those timescales extended in both 2020 and 2023, with a current expiry date of October 2026.

A report for members of Ceredigion County Council’s September Cabinet meeting, presented by Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection Cllr Matthew Vaux said that, while all three town councils and the seven local county councillors supported renewing the orders, police had said there was no substantial evidence to demonstrate an ongoing need for the orders.

“Data provided by Dyfed-Powys Police showed that, during the preceding 12 months, the Force attended seven incidents in which street drinking was identified as a contributing factor,” the report said.

“The Dyfed-Powys Police Local Commander advised that evidence of this nature would be central to any application to renew the orders and that the relatively low number of recorded incidents made it difficult to demonstrate that the restrictions remained necessary and proportionate.”

The report before members included options of extending the PSPOs for a further three years, allowing them to expire, with or without a further review; recommending a preferred option for full council decision at a later date.

Speaking at the meeting, Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais councillor Alun Williams said he was surprised by the option to discontinue the PSPOs for a scheme that had been a success in Aberystwyth.

He said the town’s Owain Glyndwr Square has, in the past, been “dominated by groups of drunken men,” who, while not necessarily committing crimes, had “created an atmosphere” where “people want to spend as little time in Owain Glyndwr Square as possible,” adding the PSPOs had “solved that at a stroke”.

Cllr Ann Bowen Morgan of Lampeter agreed, saying that while the situation in her town may not have been as bad the PSPOs had “made a difference,” with previous issues in the town’s Harford Square.

Members unanimously backed the continuation of the scheme in the three towns; the final decision being made by full council.

As back in 2023, the extension of the PSPOs will cost of approximately £700 through public notices being placed in the press, councillors heard.