Alcohol abuse is the next “task-and-finish” project to be tackled by Neath Port Talbot’s Social Services Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee. A reminder of this comes from a report in today’s Daily Post (the equivalent of the Western Mail in North Wales) that there has been a large rise in the number of mid-teens girls being found drunk and disorderly.

Locally, there has been some discussion about the designation of alcohol-free zones (AFZs). Children’s playgrounds and other open spaces would be prime candidates. One has already been established in Skewen (in Coedffranc community) at the suggestion of the police, who were obviously confident of supervising it. This is the sticking point: these zones work only if the police are able and willing to patrol them. So far, we don’t know the attitude of the police to AFZs in Cadoxton, or in Blaenhonddan generally.

If people feel there is a case for a local defined area to be designated an AFZ, the next PACT meeting (July 14th at Llangatwg School) would be a good time to raise the matter with the police.

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