MORE than 500 people have signed a petition calling for the area outside Westcliff Library to be declared an alcohol-free zone.

The petition, organised by the Westborough Community Association and the Friends of Westcliff Library, has only been going for three weeks but already has strong support from the community.

Residents felt forced to act in an effort to stop heavy drinkers using benches outside the London Road library and making library users feel unsafe.

The issue has been raised with police, who promised to look into the matter, but suggested a drinking ban would be hard to enforce.

Peter Zanchi, chairman of the Westborough Community Association, said: “For the police to say that it is not a problem and that they would not put the zone in is quite astounding.

“During the day it is a big problem for people in the area, especially for elderly people and those walking with small children.

“People do not want to have to walk past people drinking and getting drunk, and to feel uncomfortable, just to go to their library.

“If all of Hamlet Court Road can be a no-alcohol zone, then why can they not do it for a small part of Westborough?”

The issue was raised with police at a local community meeting on Tuesday evening, with acting Sgt Dave Lindsey fielding questions from the public and community leaders.

After the meeting, police commander Chief Insp Simon Anslow told the Echo: “Sergeant Lindsey thinks the area does not come remotely close to having cause for a nodrinking zone to be put in place.

“However, we will make inquiries with the Southend Multi-Agency Anti-Social Behaviour Response Team to get that confirmed.

“At the minute, we don’t feel we have the evidence to support this zone being put in place.”

Labour councillor for the Westborough ward, Kevin Robinson, has been talking to community groups behind calls for a ban, and was present at Tuesday’s meeting.

He said police accepted it was an issue for local residents, but was not pleased at officers’ lack of action.

He said: “As councillors, we fully support the aspirations of residents.

“Police said, historically, they have not had a huge number of complaints about the area and it was a small group of people meeting regularly to drink, but it is affecting so many people, it is a real issue.”