By Liz Fowler

Lollipops are set to become the latest addition to the armoury in Montrose aimed at combating late-night disturbances from drunken loudmouths.

Police in the Angus town have already taken delivery of a consignment of the sweets on a stick for distribution to local publicans, it has emerged.

The idea is they will be handed to people as they leave the pubs in a bid to reduce any noise as they wend their way homewards.

Apparently the use of the lollipop as a silencer for adults under the influence has already worked wonders in various Manchester troublespots.

Residents in the town’s Baltic Street, George Street and New Wynd area have repeatedly complained about the noise, anti-social behaviour and general disturbance which they say they regularly face at weekends as a result of revellers leaving local hostelries and nightclubs in the area.

In June this year, members of the Baltic Street Residents’ Association lodged a formal complaint with Tayside Police eastern division commander Bill Harkins, claiming local officers were not doing enough to contain the problem.

Curfews have been introduced voluntarily at the Links Hotel and Busby’s nightclubs, meaning no admission after 12.30pm, but reports recently indicate these are no longer being adhered to.

“We have a continued high incidence of disturbance, particularly in the Baltic Street area, with people leaving the pubs shouting and swearing,” said Montrose councillor Terry Wood.

“The idea is that if they are given a lollipop to suck, they will stay quiet.

“There is some scepticism whether this is going to work, but it is worth a try.”

The lollipop scheme is the brainchild of the Angus drug and alcohol action team, DAAT, which is a partnership between Tayside Police and Angus Council.

A spokeswoman for the council said, “The partnership is working to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol misuse and it is currently supporting an initiative in Montrose to encourage customers to be more considerate of pub neighbours.

“We are reminding people about the by-laws which prohibit drinking in the streets in the town centre and we are planning to try out a scheme, successfully used in Manchester, where lollipops were handed out to people as they left the pubs, to reduce the noise as they made their way home.”

It is almost 10 years since Angus Council drew up by-laws for the burghs banning drinking in certain public areas in a move to combat disorder and nuisance related to alcohol excesses. In Montrose the no-alcohol zone is already vast and Mr Wood has supported a call for it to extend to the whole of the built-up area.

In the meantime he has welcomed the 17 new no-alcohol warning signs supplied through DAAT to be erected in the town centre, and the posters for pubs alerting customers they risk a £500 penalty for carrying their drink beyond the premises.