A new amendment to the byelaws on drinking alcohol in public in areas of Stirling has come into effect following approval from the Scottish Government.
Stirling Council agreed to approach the Scottish Government to request changes in May following a four-week public consultation, which offered residents and visitors the opportunity to express their opinion on proposed changes to the Stirling Council Prohibition of Drinking of Alcohol in Public Places Byelaw.
The changes, which came into effect on Friday, August 27 will extend the area already covered by the existing byelaw in the Callander area to include the Invertrossachs Road/South Loch Venachar area and add to the wording of the existing byelaw by including the offence of having an open container of alcohol in a designated public place, with this change applying across all areas in Stirling where the byelaw has effect.
Public safety committee convener Councillor Scott Farmer said: “This update will bring this popular beauty spot in the Stirling Council area of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park into alignment with restrictions already in force in neighbouring local authorities within the national park boundary.
“The change to the byelaw also enables Police Scotland to more effectively respond to complaints of public drinking associated anti-social behaviour, which had been raised by people living in the local community. I’d like to thank everybody who took part in the consultation and helped us reach this Government-backed decision.”
Vice convener Councillor Chris Kane said: “The change to the byelaw on public drinking has been made with due consideration to the wishes of local residents and relevant public authorities, including Police Scotland and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority.
“I appreciate the comments and concerns that were made by all parties who engaged with the public consultation and believe that the changes which have been approved by the Scottish Government will resolve many of the issues that were raised.”
The byelaw was first introduced in Stirling in 1998 to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in a list of defined public places. This list has been amended and expanded over the years.
The byelaw is enforced by Police Scotland with offences being reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for decisions on prosecution.
