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PSPOs were first introduced by the council in 2017 to deter individuals or groups of individuals committing antisocial behaviour in public places. The orders are reviewed every three years, with the last review taking place in 2020.
In the consultation, the council is proposing changes to area-wide orders including whether it should:
- impose a limit on how many dogs can be walked at any one time, and
- expand its powers in order to be able to confiscate intoxicating substances and associated paraphernalia.
Area-specific changes include proposals to:
- Dundry – restrict access to Hill Road, an area which appears to be a hotspot for antisocial behaviour.
- Hutton – amend the existing order at Springwood Recreation Ground to allow dogs to be exercised off a lead in part of the area, and to impose a new dog exclusion zone at St Mary’s Field.
- Long Ashton – introduce a dogs on leads order in some parts of the Ashton Court grounds for deer protection.
- Portishead – extend the existing dogs on leads requirement at the Marina to include the area known as Lockside Square.
- St Georges – relax the no dogs restriction at the Community Centre to allow dogs to be exercised on a lead.
- Weston-super-Mare – extend the area where dogs should be excluded at Marine Lake.
- Wrington – introduce a new order at Silver Street Recreation Ground which requires dogs to be exercised on a lead.
Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Councill’s Executive Member for Safety in the community, said: "PSPOs are an important tool in tackling antisocial behaviour in our public spaces. We’ve listened to what residents and businesses have been telling us about issues in their local communities. In response to their concerns, we’re proposing the amendment of some existing orders and introduction of new orders to allow us, and partner agencies including the police, to deal more effectively with a wider range of antisocial behaviour issues in our public spaces.
"I’d like to encourage everyone to please take the time to complete the survey and give us your feedback, thoughts and questions on these proposals. We will take all views into consideration before making any final decisions."
PSPOs are enforced by designated council staff, police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and other officers authorised by the council.
Anyone breaching a PSPO is committing an offence. Each offence is considered on a case-by-case basis when deciding the most appropriate action to take. This could include a written warning, restorative justice, a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or, in some cases, prosecution.
Find out more and take part in the consultation by 11.59pm on Sunday 30 July 2023 (was Sunday 9 July) online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/pspoconsult.