The Council has issued a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) called The Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Town Centre and Clifton Park) Public Spaces Protection Order 2024.
The order will be effective from January 15th, 2024, for a period of 1 year, unless extended, varied, or discharged.
The Council has identified several activities in the public spaces that have a detrimental effect on the quality of life in the area, such as using abusive language, obstructing pavements for promotional work, allowing dogs off the leash to approach strangers, littering, public urination or defecation, spitting, and acting drunkenly.
These activities are of a persistent or continuing nature and are deemed unreasonable, justifying the restrictions imposed by the order.
The PSPO prohibits certain activities within the designated restricted area, including harassing behavior, unsolicited face-to-face fundraising and marketing, allowing dogs off the leash (except within a specific designated area), littering, public urination or defecation (except in designated public toilets), spitting, and consuming alcohol outside licensed premises or events.
The prohibitions apply to all individuals at all times within the restricted area.
Offenders who violate the order may receive fixed penalty notices of up to £100, and on summary conviction, they may face fines up to £1,000 for certain offenses related to alcohol consumption.
Authorised persons, including police officers and council employees, may issue fixed penalty notices to offenders.
The order defines key terms such as "public place," "alcohol," and "authorized person."
Interested parties have six weeks from the order's issuance date to challenge its validity in the High Court if they believe the Council did not have the power to issue the order or failed to comply with the Act's requirements.
