SEDGLEY residents have called for the town’s alcohol ban to be widened to cover Cotwall End Valley.

At North Dudley Area Committee members of the public asked why the valley has not been included in the recent alcohol ban introduced in the town - as they are having increasing trouble with youths with alcohol congregating at the valley.

The new alcohol exclusion zones prohibits the consumption of alcohol anywhere outside licensed premises in the area.

Anyone found drinking in the areas will have it confiscated and disposed of by police, however failure to comply with the order could result in arrest or a fixed penalty notice.

Inspector Mark Sutto, told the committee that youths gathering at the valley was probably a knock-on effect from the ban in the town.

He said: “I want to see how the current ban goes at the moment before going back to the local authority to consider getting it extended.

“I want this one to run for at least 12 months before thinking about changing it as it is difficult to evaluate in any less time.”

However North Dudley Area Committee chairman, Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillor Julian Ryder, told the meeting Cotwall End is actually situated in the Lower Gornal ward and not Sedgley, so would not be able to be included in the town’s ban.

He said: “We would need another ban for a separate area to cover the valley.”