Spalding Public Spaces Protection Order up for debate as public is asked to decide whether to keep town centre rules for three more years
The set of rules used to try to tackle anti-social behaviour in Spalding town centre is up for renewal – with one trader branding them a ‘waste of time’.
South Holland District Council is running a consultation on the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which covers the town – and people have until Friday, November 24, to have their say.
While the order – which runs out on December 21 – is not a drinking ban, it does set out that an offence is committed if a drinker does not comply with an officer’s request to stop.
But market trader Craig Lyons, who runs the Nutritious Vibes spice stall, says that the order is not preventing problems with fights in the town centre.
He said: “It is a waste of time if they are not going to take any action. What will make people feel safe is having the police do something.
“Every week we are seeing an altercation or shouting match or a fight.
“The police say they can’t do anything about it. We do contact them about it and when we see them here and they say they can’t do anything about it unless there’s a physical altercation.
“We always see them down here with their cans of cider or beer sitting on the benches.”
District council leader Nick Worth is urging people to get involved with the consultation but said there is a misunderstanding about the powers of the order.
He said: “I think it is good for the area – anything that can solve some of these anti-social behaviour issues has got to be good. I would definitely encourage people to get involved in the consultation.
“If we don’t have a PSPO that just makes it more difficult to enforce.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: “The police are consulted on any renewal of the PSPO. Any breaches of the PSPO are enforced by the district council, but the police provide evidence to the council of any breaches witnessed by officers.”
The order covers the area from St Thomas’ Road north to West Elloe Avenue and from Spalding Railway Station to Commercial Road.
It prevents failing to comply with an officer’s request to stop drinking in a public space; spitting; dropping litter; urinating; or defecating within the area.
The consultation aims to determine whether the order should be extended to December 2026. The PSPO was first introduced in 2016, and extended for three years in 2019 and then for another year in 2022.
If you would like to take part in the consultation go to: https://tinyurl.com/4zdfzzk2
We’re keen to hear your views. Post your comments below or email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing.co.uk
