Glastonbury has been told it faces at least another six months without a Public Space Protection Order, leaving councillors and traders demanding answers over why the long-promised crackdown on street drinking has stalled.

The update came from Somerset councillor Ewan Cameron, who told the town council that Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police had agreed there was enough evidence for a new order, but warned the process was nowhere near complete.

He said the timeline given was "at least another six months before it's in place".

He said he had already been told by traders that the timetable was "too late" and confirmed he had asked Somerset officers "what some of those process clogs may be". He said he would now find out "from a priority perspective where we sit alongside all of the other PSPOs and other issues".

Town councillors said they were under growing pressure from residents who could not understand why the order had not been reinstated.

Cllr Steve Henderson said the delay was impossible to justify. He told the meeting, "It is absolutely inexplicable to anybody why the process should take as long as it seems to." He added, "The traders are losing trade."

There was further anger from councillors over the previous PSPO being allowed to lapse when Somerset became a unitary authority.

Cllr Jon Cousins said, "We never even got a reply from Somerset Council when we actually wrote in," and told the meeting the town was now asking for "exactly the same PSPO with one very small change".

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Somerset councillor Liz Leyshon told members that despite the frustration, the council had been given a clear explanation from Somerset officers and police.

She said both had agreed they had "sufficient evidence" for a new order, but warned it would "take at least another six months before it's in place". She reminded councillors there must be a consultation and said the last time Mendip introduced a PSPO "it took a year".

Councillors also pressed for the new order to be introduced before Beltaine.

Cllr Cameron confirmed businesses had already made that request and said he would raise it again.

Cllr Henderson said residents were raising the issue with him almost daily. "Why can't we get this PSPO?" he said, adding that traders in the centre of town were watching customers walk away when problems flared near outdoor seating.

"They find a bit of an argument or unpleasantness going on within a few feet… and get up and leave early."

Councillors agreed they would continue pressing Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police for faster action. The issue will return at next month's meeting.

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