Spalding town centre Public Space Protection Order renewed for a year with a review launched into extra powers

A councillor believes ‘the message is getting across’ about anti-social behaviour - and suggests additional measures could be brought in next year.

The Spalding Town Centre Public Space Protection Order - which clamps down on street drinking, spitting, littering, urinating and defecating in public - has been extended to allow a review to take place in early 2023.

Statistics from the last three years show the number of fixed penalty notices handed out have dropped dramatically.

“I believe people are getting the message,” said Coun Gary Taylor, South Holland District Council’s portfolio holder for communities and facilities.

“There have been press reports of when people have gone to court because they’ve not paid their fixed penalty. They’ve been named and shamed for dropping cigarette ends.

“That’s not being harsh that’s what happens if you don’t play by the rules, your name’s not public originally.

“The message is getting across, even among groups of friends. They’re saying ‘pick that up or you could get fined’. That’s useful.”

Fourteen fixed penalty notices were handed out for failing to hand over alcohol in 2020, compared to three in 2021 and three in 2022. Littering saw 55 FPNs served in 2020, 67 in 2021 and 12 this year.

Two penalties for spitting have been dished out for littering this year, lower than 2021 (11) and 2020 (seven). No FPNs have been served for defecating over the past three years, but there have been six for urinating, all in 2021.

In 2019 there were 12 FPNs for refusing to hand over alcohol, 177 for littering,27 for spitting and two for urinating.

The the PSPO was first introduced in 2016, and extended for three years in 2019.

The order currently covers all of the town centre, from West Elloe Avenue to St Thomas’ Road and the railway tracks to High Street.

It allows police, PCSOs and community wardens to issue fixed penalty fines to people ignoring the rules and a failure to pay could lead to a court appearance.

The new order will be in place for up to a year to allow the review to be held, where additional measures could be added.

“I believe it’s worth having, absolutely,” Coun Taylor added.

“Spitting is a disgusting habit, and people who use the streets as a toilet, we have to enforce against that.

“There’s talk for anti-social cycling to be included in the next one. I’ve got some sympathy.”

A recent story of poo being found in a Spalding street hit the headlines and is an example that not every act of anti-social behaviour has led to a fixed penalty notice, while lockdowns in the first two years of this latest order may have caused a rise in street drinking and public urinating.

However, Coun Taylor praised the work carried out by the community wardens, and stressed he believes the order has helped improve the town centre. He added: “Although different aspects make a difference, from the wardens to community groups, there’s a bit more pride in the area.

“There’s always more to do, we’d like some empty shops to come back into use and make the area look cleaner and tidier.

We know there’s some improvements taking place regarding street scene, new benches, new furniture.

“A lot has happened recently, especially coming out of lockdown.

“We’re in a better place than we could have been and a better place than some towns and communities.”