The North Shore City Council is calling for public feedback on a proposed 24 hour liquor ban in the public areas of Northcote central.

Postcard style submission forms are being distributed to Northcote residents/businesses in the affected area asking for their thoughts on a permanent liquor ban. The area encompasses the Northcote Shopping Centre with the boundary going along College Road to Cadness Street then along Tonar Street and Lake Road to the Exmouth Road/College Road intersection (map shown on form).

The Council's Senior Advisor Environmental Protection, Ian Parker, says the liquor ban was originally proposed by the Birkenhead-Northcote Community Board.

"A subsequent release of statistics by the NZ Police from the period December 2008 to February 2009 indicated that alcohol related offences in the area peak on weekends but there are also significant problems throughout the week, from midday onwards during the day.

"The Northcote central area has seen high instances of alcohol related crime in past months and many people have voiced their concerns over these issues. The safety and security of our residents is paramount and it is for this reason that the 24 hour liquor ban proposal has been put forward. The proposal has the support of the New Zealand Police and local community groups.

"We are asking for the public to fill in the postcards and provide us with their comments on the matter," said Ian Parker.

The submission forms can be dropped off at the Northcote Library and the Northcote Housing NZ office. If people have not received a postcard and would like to comment, they are available at the Northcote Library and Citizens Advice Bureau in the Norman King Building, Ernie Mays Street, Northcote.

A recent survey carried out in March 2009 of residents and businesses adjacent to a portion of the overnight liquor ban areas throughout the city indicated a 98.9 percent support rate of overnight liquor bans in specified public places. The Northcote Shopping Centre precinct (including Greenslade Reserve) was one of the areas surveyed.