East Suffolk Council
Have your say on proposed changes to Public Space Protection Order
Residents in Lowestoft are invited to have their say on changes being proposed to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) currently in place in part of the town.
A PSPO is currently in place for the Harbour ward in Lowestoft and prohibits the consumption of alcohol in specific areas. However, a number of variations are now being proposed for the PSPO, which relate to e-scooters and electric bikes, as well as other forms of anti-social and offensive behaviour.
Amongst the proposed changes is a condition which would prohibit people riding e-scooters and electric bikes in a dangerous manner, or in a way which causes a nuisance to other people.
A further condition would prohibit anti-social or offensive behaviour within the PSPO area, which includes damage to property, public urination, spitting or threatening behaviour, and another condition would give authorised officers a discretionary power to act where there are large groups of people whose behaviour becomes, or is likely to become, anti-social.
A consultation is now open, inviting people to give their views on the proposed variations.
Cllr Jan Candy, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Community Health said: “We want to ensure the Public Space Protection Order which is currently in place in this area meets the needs of local residents, and the survey will help us to understand whether there are additional conditions which should now be included in the Order to tackle a wider range of anti-social behaviour and improve community safety.”
The survey also gives people the opportunity to add locations to the PSPO area which are not currently included.
Officers from the East Suffolk Communities Team will be in Lowestoft town centre on Friday 24 October (10am – 1pm) and Saturday 1 November (10am - 1pm) to speak to people about the PSPO consultation.
The consultation closes at midday on Friday 10 November.