Anti-social boozing in public has worsened since Keighley’s town centre wardens were scrapped, it is claimed.

Now a zero-tolerance approach is being proposed to crack down on the problem.

Keighley Area Committee has asked for the town council’s help to address the issue.

It has proposed a marketing campaign, designed to deliver a zero tolerance message against drinking alcohol in public.

The campaign would also raise awareness of the Designated Public Places Order (DPPO), granted to Keighley in November 2003.

This allows a police officer to request an adult not to drink alcohol in a public place. The officer may also require the person to surrender any alcohol in their possession.

The area committee’s request has been submitted to the town council’s watch and transport committee, which is chaired by Councillor Graham Mitchell.

He said the group was due to discuss the matter at its next meeting on Monday.

He added he was happy to work with the area committee, part of Bradford Council, but noted alcohol-related bad behaviour used to be dealt with effectively by the town’s uniformed street wardens.

He said it had become more of a problem since the seven-strong team was scrapped last year.

Government funding for the service had run out and it was abolished despite a 2,000-signature petition calling for the wardens to stay.

Cllr Mitchell said: “I have said that the watch and transport committee will partner the area co-ordinator’s office.

“However much I regret the way in which this matter has been allowed to develop — through the removal of the town centre wardens — the committee will certainly help to address the issue and get it back under control.”

Jeff Bennett, the Keighley area co-ordinator, said: “Last summer we had problems with people drinking in public places around Keighley town centre and causing a nuisance.

“The area co-ordinator’s office got together with the police, the Airedale Centre, Keighley Town Centre Association, the council anti-social behaviour team, the bus station and Incommunities to tackle the problem.

“We distributed nuisance diaries to shopkeepers and business owners so they could record incidents.

“We also targeted individuals with warning letters about their behaviour in a designated public places order zone.

“This was very successful and we are preparing for next summer by considering a marketing campaign to remind people drinking in the streets of Keighley is unacceptable.”

Responding to Cllr Mitchell’s concern about the loss of the wardens, he added that the Government had decided three years ago to shift funding from council wardens to police community support officers (PCSOs).

He said: “This national match funding means that for the cost of one council warden, the district can instead benefit from three PCSOs.

“Bradford Council took a decision to shift local resources from wardens to PCSOs, ensuring that the district now benefits from a total of 130 PCSOs who work in every neighbourhood, including Keighley town centre.”