NEW measures to crack down on street drinking, begging, and other anti-social activities in Weymouth town centre look set to come into force as authorities get more 'clout' to deal with problems.

It comes after Weymouth and Portland Borough Council consulted residents on new Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), a move which triggered hundreds of responses – demonstrating that people want authorities to get to grips with anti-social behaviour (ASB) in town.

Yobs drinking on the seafront and other public areas and problems associated with street begging are major issues locally, and the consultation showed many are supportive of measures to sort this out with proper enforcement.

PSPOs are a new measure from the government to give councils power to deal with particular ASB problems which are having an effect on people in certain areas.

Replacing older public orders, PSPOs are different in that they are enforceable with a fixed penalty notice of £100, usually from a police officer.

The council is set to introduce these orders in relation to anti-social drinking and begging, as well as the feeding of gulls and cycling restrictions.

The council's Policy Development Committee will consider a report at a meeting this Monday. Members are being recommended to approve the need for the PSPOs and decide what provisions should be included.

In relation to the drinking order the PSPO will make it an offence to fail to

comply with a request by a police officer to cease drinking, or surrender alcohol in the designated area.

This will replace an older order covering Weymouth town centre and Easton Square, Portland, and will be extended to cover part of the Rodwell Trail, Hope Square, Melcombe Avenue, St John’s Church and Grange Road in Weymouth.

Out of the total 800 people who responded, 777 had been affected by alcohol-related ASB in the town centre and 754 on the seafront.

In relation to begging, the order will prohibit begging in the town centre – supporting a multi-agency approach to deal with "persistent and problem individuals".

The council will also be working with others to provide help and support to people who beg.

Three quarters of people who responded in the consultation said they thought begging was a problem.

The council report says: "The council will continue to seek solutions to homelessness and financial hardship. However, the council has to balance the rights and needs of all

sectors of the community. It is not acceptable for people to feel intimidated

and to lose business due to the behaviour of a minority of individuals."

There are also plans for an order to prohibit the feeding of gulls, which causes a public nuisance.

People will be prohibited from feeding gulls, including dropping or distributing bird feed unless authorised in a defined area.

Regarding cycling, a bylaw does not allow cycling on the promenade at all times.

The proposal aims to find a compromise by suspending the bylaw and replacing with a PSPO, prohibiting cycling only when it is likely to have a detrimental effect at busy periods – so between 10am-6pm from May 1 to September 30.