Are Newquay, Truro, Penzance and Falmouth too busy at times?
Cornwall Council and Police are today looking at how town centres are managed
Police will today call for new 'Community Safety Zones’ as a review takes place of how busy it is during the evenings in Newquay, Truro, Penzance and Falmouth.
Cornwall Council is reviewing what it calls the 'Cumulative Impact' of things like lots of bars and takeways in one area as officials look to develop a more 'proactive' ways of overseeing town centres.
A report ahead of time by Alcohol Licensing Sergeant David Flynn states: "Police are happy to support the review of the policy in considering whether to move away from ‘Cumulative Impact Areas’ and consider ‘Community Safety Zones’ which is a more proactive approach that focuses on managing risks through partnership, operator responsibility and safety."
It adds: "The Cumulative Impact Policy is an important piece of legislation which Devon and Cornwall Police regard as a necessary tool in order to support those businesses who are working hard to do a good job in promoting the licensing objectives and also to prevent those who the police regard as potentially having a negative impact on those licensing objectives and ultimately the county and its people."
The full report by police can be read here
A report ahead of the meeting, called by Cornwall Council, states: "The special policies relating to cumulative impact were originally adopted in February 2007 (Newquay), January 2008 (Truro), October 2009 (Penzance) and February 2014 (Falmouth).
"Cumulative Impact Assessments must be reviewed at least every three years to determine whether they should be maintained, amended or removed."
It adds: "In areas where the number, type and density of premises selling alcohol is high or exceptional, serious problems of nuisance and disorder tend to occur outside licensed premises and can also extend some distance from those premises.
"Large concentrations of people queuing, gathering or leaving licensed premises at the same time, including late night takeaways, can lead to conflict, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
"Large concentrations of people may also increase the incidence of other criminal activities. In addition, local services such as public transport, public toilets and street cleaning may not be able to meet the demand posed by concentrations of people."