Consultation underway on proposed new PSPO
Public consultation on a proposed new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the Stour Parks and Gorrell Valley has begun.
PSPOs are designed to help the police and council enforcement officers crack down on behaviour that reduces people's quality of life. They would have the power to remove and dispose of items and issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
The proposed PSPO would apply in the following areas:
Stour Parks: Kingsmead Field, Vauxhall Field, Greyfriars Franciscan Gardens, Solley's Orchard, the Butterfly Garden, Millers Field, Guildhall Churchyard, Westgate Gardens, Whitehall Meadows Nature Reserve, Tannery Field, Bingley Island, Toddlers Cove (including the car park), Wincheap Meadow and Nature Reserve, Hambrook Marshes, the Great Stour Way between Canterbury and Chartham, footpath CB479 at Chartham, and the cycle route on the south side of the River Stour from Sturry Road Community Park to Fordwich and the footpaths either side of the river from Fordwich to Westbere Marshes including the land immediately adjacent
Gorrell Valley: Gorrell Valley Nature Reserve and amenity area, Duncan Down and Benacre Wood
Among other things, the activities proposed to be in the PSPO include:
- lighting or fuelling any open fire
- using, lighting or discarding any barbecue
- removing, disturbing or interfering with any wildlife
There are also two different options proposed for glass bottles. One option could be to ban people littering, discarding or breaking glass bottles, or the other option could be to ban people being in possession of any glass bottle believed to contain alcohol (other than when sealed and in transit).
Lead councillor for enforcement, Cllr Ashley Clark, said: "These are award winning areas that provide us with that vital link to nature that is critical to our mental and physical well being. As such they are essential to the overall quality of life in our district.
"Such valuable places need our protection and respect if we are to be able to enjoy them. Public Space Protection Orders are a key component to that process. They provide a useful framework and standard as to how we all would expect people to behave and they will help our wardens and volunteers who maintain these places in partnership with council when they have occasion to give advice.
"Ideally we seek to change behaviour and to prevent unfortunate things happening and that is why we have included an option to ban opened glass bottles with alcohol because of the problems we have experienced. It has absolutely nothing to do with raising money, but for those beyond education, sanctions apply giving the police, council enforcement officers and authorised persons the power to act."
To read the draft PSPO and comment, go to the council's consultation website. Alternatively, email comments to consultations@canterbury.gov.uk or write to Mike Bailey, Corporate Consultation Manager, Canterbury City Council, Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW. The deadline is 5pm on Sunday 8 August.
All the comments will be reported to councillors and to the council's Chief Executive to consider, before he decides whether to bring all or some of the draft PSPO into effect.
Published: 22 July 2021