Plans to re-implement a Public Spaces Protection Order for the Fitzwilliam Road area of Rotherham have received support from the local community and key partner organisations.
A report submitted to Rotherham Council, which was approved at the Cabinet meeting on June 20, showed that 90 per cent of respondents supported a new designation.
The original PSPO was implemented for the Fitzwilliam Road area of Rotherham in June 2019 with it due to expire in June 2022, as legislation allows for Orders to be a maximum of three years.
Cllr Saghir Alam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance, said: “The consultation showed public support for continuing with the PSPO for this area of Rotherham.
“The new powers which were introduced to tackle the minority of people who make life unpleasant for others have had an effect but it is clear from the results that more needs to be done. We are pleased that Cabinet has approved the report’s recommendation.”
A consultation was carried out including key partners such as South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, local voluntary and third sector groups and Ward Councillors.
A public consultation on the Council’s website, which was sign posted via social media, was also opened. And engagement with local residents who have English as a second language at Clifton Learning Partnership took place with translation support.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Chapman said: “We fully support the application for the refreshed Public Space Protection Order in relation to Fitzwilliam Road. Numerous complaints are regularly received from within the community which relate to anti-social behaviour, and environmental issues including waste management.
“There have been 34 reports to South Yorkshire Police within the area for these incident categories so far this year to date, this is in addition to issues that will have been dealt with by officer intervention without an incident being created, or ASB that would be linked to other recorded matters.
“The refreshed PSPO would afford SYP and partner agencies the powers and tools to deal with such complaints in a robust manner, whilst also raising awareness to those that may behave in such a way that this conduct is not acceptable. The additional powers afforded under the PSPO would serve to reassure the community that SYP and partners are taking their concerns seriously and seeking to take appropriate action.”
The draft order proposes the following clauses and requirements:
Any person commits an offence if they are found to be:
- Consuming alcohol other than on licensed premises or at a licensed event
- Behaving in such a way or using language that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person.
- Causing noise that is likely to have a detrimental impact on a person(s) quality of life
In addition, residents, Landlords and Managing Agents (i.e. relevant persons) will be required to:
- Ensure that the wheelie bin(s) for their property or waste presented for collection in a manner specified for their property is not situated outside the boundary of their premises other than between 6pm on the day before collection is due, and 9pm on the day of collection unless the wheelie bin is in an identifiable bin storage area or yard for wheelie bins of their property.