Have your say on local byelaw to curb antisocial behaviour
Ashfield residents still have plenty of time to have their say on plans to widen powers aimed at cracking down on antisocial behaviour across the District.
A six week public consultation period began in mid April and residents have until midnight on Monday 27 May to submit their views on Ashfield District Council’s (ADC) proposal to extend and vary the terms of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) first introduced back in 2021.
The order gives local authorities powers to ban or restrict certain activities they believe are detrimental to an area.
ADC plans to widen restrictions currently aimed at combating car cruisers around junction 27 of the M1 to a District wide ban on ‘vehicle nuisance.’
This will ban drivers from performing stunts such as skidding, handbrake turns and doughnut manoeuvres on Ashfield’s roads.
The District also wants the power to fine those responsible for harassing women and girls in the street – making it the first authority in the region to do so.
This is in response to a survey which showed 60 per cent of women and girls had been verbally abused in public, including being subject to catcalling and sexual comments.
The PSPO would also extend existing conditions relating to the control of dogs – including designated dog exclusion areas such as children’s parks, requests for dogs to be on leads and continuing to impose a ban on drinking alcohol and requirement for antisocial individuals to move aways from designated areas by authorised officers.
As part of the public consultation, a short survey is available for people to answer questions and submit any other views.
John Bennett, Executive Director Place, said:
“We want a safer and stronger Ashfield for all residents. The existing PSPO we have in place has proved extremely effective in giving us the tools to combat antisocial behaviour.
“Vehicle nuisance is not just confined to near the M1 and our plans to widen that, reflect an issue which we know residents are concerned about.
“And our plans to do more to protect women and girls from street harassment will be welcomed by so many. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and those responsible will find themselves issued with fixed penalty notices under our plan.”
You can read more about the PSPO plan here.
If you would like to meet your local Community Safety and Neighbourhood Policing Teams and ask any questions about the proposed order, you can meet them between 9am-1pm on the following dates:
Hucknall High Street - Wednesday 1 May 2024
Kirkby Plaza – Wednesday 8 May 2024
Sutton Sun Dial – Wednesday 15 May 2024
Selston Co-op area – Wednesday 23 May 2024
