Enforcement against spitting and aggressive begging in a Nottinghamshire town may get stronger as residents' views are sought. Rushcliffe Borough Council is looking to clamp down on "a small but impacting number of incidents" related to the issues in recent years in West Bridgford.
The new proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) seeks to restrict alcohol consumption in public spaces and removes previous rules on outdoor sleeping to replace it with more specific restrictions that have been causing "nuisance, annoyance, fear or distress." It could be introduced to assist Nottinghamshire Police and other authorities with fixed penalty notices of up to £100.
The designated area could now also include Lyme Park Pond and Broadstone Close Pond in Compton Acres. The council says the revised order builds on the existing order having been used to positive effect since 2017 and will act as a strong deterrent to not flout the rules.
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It was first introduced in 2017 and renewed in 2020, and the PSPO was implemented to give additional powers to the authorities from those refusing to follow requests in incidents linked to wider anti-social behaviour. The council says: "Also newly proposed is an outline no person shall beg for money or for any other item whether expressly or impliedly in a manner that causes or is likely to cause nuisance, annoyance, fear or distress to any other person.
"This addresses a small number reports from members of the public in recent years where concern has been raised the begging can give rise to issues, for example if occurring near a cash point, discouraging customers using a shop or facility or be intimidating.
"The final new element of the proposed order outlines no person shall spit, urinate or defecate on land or street furniture within the designated area. Spitting, urinating and defecating in public areas is anti-social and can lead to the spread of disease as well as blight public areas."
As part of the order, people could be asked to leave the area due to their behaviour, with officers imposing an exclusion period of up to 48 hours from a specific location.
The council says this "could be following a refusal to hand over drink for example, or other serious reason that is causing alarm, harassment or distress. It is expected that this will allow officers to respond proportionately to reports from members of the public in a more immediate and consistent manner".
Another new part of the order includes the ability for officers to order people who leave belongings on pavements or a playing field covered by the order to remove it or face a fine or prosecution.
The council spokesperson states: "Such items can lead to trip hazards, block access and make public areas look unsightly, preventing it being utilised for its intended use. It can include camping equipment or belongings left in doorways causing obstruction."
The council says it will also address street drinking, leaving hazards or obstructions in the street and the dispersal of nuisance groups. Residents can have their say in a survey until Friday October 25.
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