Merton ponders banning street drinking in whole borough

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A ban on street drinking could soon cover every part Merton.

The council is carrying out a public consultation on expanding a public space protection order throughout the whole borough.

The council already has the order in place in five areas of the borough, which was recently renewed and due to run until October 2025.

This covers Cricket Green, Figges Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields and Ravensbury.

The consultation reads: “After reviewing the available data, the council is now considering whether a borough-wide PSPO is necessary.

“If it is ultimately decided to make such an order, it is proposed that the existing PSPO be discharged since it will be replaced by the new order.

“This consultation exercise seeks to ascertain views on the extent of the area covered by the proposed PSPO and on the prohibitions and requirements it would impose. It also seeks to collect more general perception information about Merton.”

If approved, police or council enforcement officers would be able to ask people to stop drinking in public if they were thought to be causing antisocial behaviour.

Anyone who does not either stop drinking or hand over the alcohol could be issued a £100 fine.

The existing PSPOs were extended in September 2022, when  Councillor Eleanor Stringer, cabinet member for civic pride, said: “Merton is one of the safest boroughs in London.

“But we know that antisocial behaviour has an impact on people’s lives and how they feel about their local area, and it’s really important that when we launch policies to help residents, they can clearly see them being properly implemented.”

The current consultation will run until February 27. The 10-week consultation aims to find out whether a borough-wide PSPO is wanted by residents or if a “less extensive” PSPO would be better.

Pictured top: Merton Civic Centre, in London Road, Morden (Picture: Google Street View)