Outdoor drinking in Banbury town centre is almost certain to be banned.

Plans for an experimental drinks ban in Horsefair, People's Park, St Mary's Churchyard, Church Passage, and The Leys got the go-ahead at a meeting this week of Cherwell District Council's regulatory and service appeals panel. The ban could be in force by August, if approved by the full council on July 22.

The scheme has been supported by the police, the church, businesses, and residents.

The aim is to cut the number of drink-related problems in the town by prohibiting the consumption of alcohol except on licensed premises. The ban will be reviewed after a year, and could be extended to other parts of Banbury.

The panel discussed the proposals in March and have since consulted 150 occupiers of premises in the area.

Crime and incident statistics, reports from the council's security contractor, and letters from residents were taken into account. Supt John Liversidge, area commander of North Oxfordshire Police, said the new regulations would make it easier to deal with persistent alcohol abusers and would be a positive step in reducing the fear of crime in the town.

But Supt Liversidge pointed out that much anti-social behaviour came from late-night drinkers who used the no-alcohol areas as a route home. He said the new legislation would have no effect on them.

The Rev Janet Chapman, priest-in-charge of St Mary's Church, said the ban had been fully supported by the joint church council. Jim Flux, chairman of the Banbury Council for Voluntary Service, based at the Carers Centre in Horsefair, said the CVS executive had backed the ban.

Ian Stirling, of Lane Fox, was in favour of the restrictions. He said broken bottles were frequently left in his company's car park.

A resident of Bath Road reported that a group of drinkers gathered in People's Park seven days a week and were loud, argumentative, used foul language, brawled, and urinated in public.

Tom Thompson, Banbury town clerk, said the town council supported the ban as long as it did not affect events in the park such as Mayor's Sunday.

The cost of the scheme will be £500 for new signs.