Order to protect public spaces renewed
Rules that help tackle the problems associated with public drinking, the taking of drugs and so-called 'legal highs' in all public areas of the borough have been renewed by the Borough Council.
Councillors voted unanimously to renew the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for a further three years after the public supported it in a consultation held in the autumn.
First introduced in the borough in 2016, the PSPO is a measure, created by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which is intended to deal with activities carried out in a public space that have a detrimental effect on the local community’s quality of life.
Signs are installed in parks and other public spaces to warn potential offenders that restrictions are in place with the aim of preventing individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces. A breach of the PSPO is a criminal offence and can result in a £100 fixed penalty fine. More serious offences can lead to prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.
The same legislation is also used to tackle irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up after their pets, or who do not have their pets under control, as well as help prevent a wider range of other environmental nuisances that are currently tricky to curtail.
Executive Member for Street Scene Services, Parks and Open Spaces Cllr Lynda Hodgkins said: “Parks and open spaces are there for everybody’s enjoyment, but some activities and behaviour can create a nuisance to other park users. After reviewing and consulting with our residents, we’ve now updated the order so we can make all our parks and open spaces more enjoyable for everyone to use.”
The order for Hinckley and Bosworth will prohibit the use of so-called 'legal highs' and will also prohibit the consumption of alcohol if consumers are behaving anti-socially or causing alarm or distress to other residents.
At the same time the order requires dog owners to pick up after their dog and to keep their dog under control, when on or off the lead.
New features include:
- At Hollycroft Park the ‘dogs to be kept on a lead’ area continues to include the tennis courts, the bowling green, the pitch and putt and the bandstand arena.
- Ashby Road Cemetery remains dogs on lead throughout the entire site.
- All Parish Councils are now included within the order and have opted for certain rules within their own green spaces.
View our borough's Public Space Protection Order
For more information, call 01455 255971 or email streetscene@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk
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