Concern voiced over Hawick booze ban bid

Scottish Borders Council chiefs are considering introducing a by-law making it illegal to drink alcohol outside in public spaces in Hawick and three other towns as a trial initiative.

If approved, that would mean those caught flouting the ban could be hit with fines of up to £500, but already fears have been voiced about how that might impact on the town’s annual common riding.

The regional council’s chief legal officer, Nuala McKinlay, told Hawick Community Council’s meeting on Monday night: “The principal areas for Hawick Common Riding are not within the main Hawick settlement boundaries.

“If it is introduced, the ban wouldn’t cover those areas.

“The town centre is, though, so if you wanted to see an exemption in the town centre during the common riding, we would ask that you make it known.

“Equally, if you don’t want to see an exemption, then you should make that known too.”

Before any decision is made on whether or not to introduce the pilot project, expected to run for at least two years, Teries are being urged to take part in a consultation on the plans.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall said: “My view are rather mixed, like a lot of other people’s. If it means we can stop seeing people walking along the High Street at 10am on a Monday morning with a can of beer, then that’s a good thing. That’s not a good image for our town.

“If it’s going to encroach on our common riding, carnivals and festivals, these are great things for our community and we need to be careful.

“We need to watch that we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot with this. These are great events for us. We do need to tread carefully with it.”

Ms McKinlay added: “The consultation held first time around said that at certain times the consumption of alcohol can cause problems in the town. Nobody said that was at the common riding.

“This is why it’s really important that you take part in the consultation.

“Your knowledge around events like this is vital in helping us make sure councillors make an informed decision.”

Community councillor Wilson George claimed pubs simply cannot help but let revellers spill out onto the street during the common riding each June due to the sheer amount of people attending.

“We have thousands of people coming into Hawick on the Thursday through to Saturday during the common riding,” he said. “Every pub cannot cope with the amount of folk that is in Hawick.

“It’s horrendous the amount of people. They are coming off the Mair in their hundreds.

“Do you make every pub on the way into town exempt?”