ROWDY drinkers are to be prevented from spoiling the tranquillity of a York park where the city's war dead are remembered.

The War Memorial Gardens, off Station Road, are said to be used regularly by groups of drinkers who are rude and abusive.

Unlike other areas of the city, no orders are in place to restrict the consumption of alcohol, so it is difficult to prevent it.

But planning chiefs last night voted unanimously to introduce a restriction order which will prohibit the consumption of alcohol.

The order will not ban drinking outright, but will make it an offence if a person continues to drink once they have been asked to stop by a police officer.

In July this year, similar restrictions were introduced for Glen Gardens, in East Parade, Heworth; land behind Poppleton Community Centre, in Main Street, Upper Poppleton, and also in York's Museum Gardens.

Coun Ken King told the planning meeting: "I think we should be doing everything in our power to get rid of the unsuitable people that are using the War Memorial Gardens."

Before the order is implemented for the War Memorial Gardens evidence will have to be collected, including the number of complaints received or the number of incidents recorded by police.

The order is part of a £10,000 improvement scheme to revamp the War Memorial Gardens.

City of York Council was given £10,000 as part of an agreement made with the developers of the former Foxtons Garage site, next to the park, where luxury apartments and flats have now been built.

The gardens, formerly owned by the British Rail Property Board, were sold to the developers and transferred to the council last year.

Paths in the park have already been resurfaced and other work which will take place includes:

Additional path repairs

Landscaping alongside a new boundary wall

Refurbishment of benches

Work on existing shrub beds

Restocking rose beds.

Updated: 12:01 Friday, November 22, 2002