A public consultation on stricter rules for anti-social behaviour including the use of bicycles and e-scooters has been launched by Southend-on-Sea City Council.
A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was first introduced to the City in July 2019 for a three-year period to tackle certain types of anti-social behaviour. As the order is now up for renewal, the council has looked at other complaints and issues raised by residents and is seeking their views on whether the order should be extended to cover bicycles, e-scooters and a wider alcohol control area.
The existing PSPO includes certain behaviours such as urinating, littering and drinking alcohol, in specific roads and public areas within the City of Southend and the consultation seeks resident’s views on renewing it for another three years, with the following additional conditions:
- Prohibiting cycling (including e-scooters) in pedestrianised areas
- Extending the drinking control area to include Toledo Road, part of Hilcrest Road and part of York Road.
Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for public protection, said: “The PSPO, while used as a last resort, is an important tool for our officers who have to manage some of the persistent anti-social behaviour they see on their patrols. But the PSPO is only useful if it addresses the problems going on, and we need residents to take part in the consultation and let us know if we’ve covered everything we need to.
“People want to visit Southend and feel safe, and importantly, we want to be able to welcome visitors to our City in the knowledge they are going to have a good time and leave, wanting to return. Please help us get this right.”
The consultation can be found on the Your Say Southend website and is open until 5pm on Saturday 25 June.