PROPOSALS to introduce new by-laws in a bid to crack down on street drinking have been shelved despite the backing of a town council.

A recent crime audit of the Chiltern district identified alcohol and drug abuse as areas of concern especially in public places including the village pond at Chalfont St Giles, Chesham's Lowndes Park and King George V Playing Fields in Amersham.

In June Amersham town councillors wrote to Chiltern District Council asking for by-laws banning the drinking of alcohol in public places.

But at a meeting of the district council's executive committee on Tuesday, it was decided that the introduction of such laws was not the right solution.

Harvey Patterson, Chiltern District Council's legal manager, told councillors that new government guidelines would give local authorities the power to designate public areas where drinking alcohol would become a criminal offence.

But Mr Patterson added that such powers would not be available until later this year. He also added that all by-laws will cease to have effect from September 2006.

Cllr Don Phillips (Con, Little Chalfont) said there was little point in introducing new regulations as the whole issue boiled down to a matter of enforcement.

Amersham town councillor Josie Ricketts said drinking in public places was disgusting and had to stop.

The decision whether to designate areas for banning the drinking of alcohol was deferred until later this year.