The council has begun a public consultation for a booze ban in New Addington's Central Parade.

The move for a "controlled drinking zone" follows complaints from residents and businesses concerned about rowdy drunks and the levels of antisocial behaviour and crime in the shopping area.

Ken Burgess, pet store owner and chairman of the Central Parade Business Partnership, petitioned to have the drinking ban put in place.

The business partnership is aiming to clean up the parade and make it more attractive to customers in a bid to counter the threat of a new Tesco being built across the road.

Mr Burgess said drunks spending their days outside the shops were intimidating and driving away customers. "I have no objection to people drinking, but in the right place," he added.

Denise Lyons, joint owner of florist Bloomin' Lovely, said: "I think the ban will be a brilliant thing. The other day there was this woman, who had been drinking all day, stretched out outside the Cyber Cafe. She was totally out of it with cans all around her. It just gives a dreadful impression to people coming off the trams and buses."

The proposed zone covers the whole of the Central Parade area; from New Addington tram stop in the north to St Edward's Church in the south, and from Salcott Crescent to the east through to Chertsey Crescent in the west.

Enforcement of the ban is carried out by the police who can request a person to stop drinking or surrender their drinks to be disposed of in the dry zone. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and can lead to arrest or a fixed penalty fine of £50.

Anyone wishing to make a representation about the proposal should do so in writing to Mike Pilgrim, Acting Director, Environment, Culture and Public Protection, Croydon Council, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 3BT, by Thursday, June 5.