BARNTON Parish Council has decided not to impose an alcohol free zone in the village despite complaints about youths causing problems with drinking.

Parish councillors heard that the 'in place' for the problem youths moves around and the suggestion was that a bylaw was put in place.

Whereas the problem area used to be Runcorn Road Recreation Ground before the new fence was installed, it is currently worse by the British Legion and on Tunnel Top.

Parish clerk Roy Garton said: "If there is a bylaw then the police would have to enforce it. They would be able to confiscate alcohol and arrest anyone over the age of 18 who is in possession of alcohol in an alcohol free zone, which they can't do at the moment.

"The bylaw could be extended to the whole village if that is what the parish council wants."

Parish councillor Ron Hearsey said there was a need to proceed with the bylaw to give the police the power to act and it would look bad if the parish council did not go ahead now.

Clr Hearsey said: "The youths responsible will just think they can do what they like."

But Clr Sarah Carter said that she felt, knowing the youths involved, that whether there was a bylaw or not they would continue with the drinking and it would be very hard to stop them.

She proposed that the parish council did not waste money by making the bylaw, which was passed by seven votes to three with one abstention.

Clr Zoe Kilby suggested the situation was monitored and looked at again in the future.