Consultation on public spaces extended

10:00am - 14 July 2023

More time is available for you to have your say on an important tool used to tackle antisocial behaviour, and make sure everyone can use and enjoy public spaces. 

The deadline for our consultation on existing and proposed changes to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) has been extended to allow more people to comment.

You now have until 11.59pm on Sunday 30 July to get involved in the consultation.

We want public spaces to be welcoming for all and invite all residents, businesses and community groups to have their say.

PSPOs are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem which is having a detrimental impact on people’s quality of life.

The orders work by imposing conditions on the use of a particular area. Anyone found to breach one is committing an offence.

They are enforced by designated council staff, police officers, Police Community Support Officers, and other officers authorised by us.

Offences are considered on a case-by-case basis and might result in a written warning, restorative justice, a Fixed Penalty Notice or, in some cases, prosecution.

PSPOs were first introduced here in North Somerset in 2017 and are reviewed every three years, based on feedback and concerns of local residents and businesses.

The new orders will allow us, with partner agencies including the police, to deal more effectively with a wider range of antisocial behaviour issues in public spaces.

Now is the chance to have your say on these proposals

All views will be taken into consideration before making any final decisions.

Proposed changes to area-wide orders include imposing a limit on how many dogs can be walked by one person at a time, and expanding our powers 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.