BOOZE will still be allowed on Hadleigh's streets after it emerged today that not enough people had backed a petition to ban it.Town councillors and police officers want alcohol off the streets during evenings in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the market town.

BOOZE will still be allowed on Hadleigh's streets after it emerged today that not enough people had backed a petition to ban it.

Town councillors and police officers want alcohol off the streets during evenings in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the market town.

But only 315 people signed their names by a proposal to make the town alcohol-free so Hadleigh Town Council has decided not to lobby Babergh District Council to make the changes until it has more support for the plans.

The town has a population of around 7,000 meaning less than five per cent, or one in 20, of townsfolk gave the idea their backing in writing.

The snub comes just weeks after town chiefs in Ipswich gave the go-ahead to plans to ban alcohol in the town's public spaces, following a positive consultation with residents and businesses in the town.

But at the recent Hadleigh Town Council meeting Sergeant Alice Robertson of Hadleigh police told the councillors: “We will support the petition but I don't think enough homework has been done because I think you need a lot more support.

“If you look at just 315 people from the whole of Hadleigh people will say they have had much more support in other towns.”

Councillor David Grutchfield said he was disappointed with the response but remained committed to outlawing alcohol in Hadleigh's streets at night.

He added: “We know that alcohol is the reason behind some crimes and that banning it would have a positive affect on the town.

“Hopefully we will still be able to make the changes if we can get more support.”

The town council will no consider its options, which could include petitioning people in the streets of the town, and will discuss the issue again at the next town council meeting.

Would you like to see alcohol banned from the streets of Hadleigh? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.