Street drinking and dog controls orders set to be extended
News release issued:
Measures to tackle alcohol related antisocial behaviour and irresponsible dog ownership look set to be renewed.
Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet is considering a report which supports the renewal at its meeting on Tuesday 12 September. The report recommends renewing Public Spaces Protection Orders to restrict the consumption of alcohol within specified areas of Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn. The Orders are not an outright ban on street drinking. They mean that designated officers can order people to hand over or dispose of alcohol if they are causing problems while drinking.
The council carried out a public consultation in July/August asking for views on how the PSPOs are currently working and if respondents would like them to remain in place. In total there were 145 responses regarding the alcohol restriction PSPOs. The results showed overwhelming support for them. More than 90% (average for the three towns) said they agreed designated officers should have the authority to stop people drinking in the specified areas.
The report also recommends renewing the PSPO the council has to tackle issues arising from irresponsible dog ownership. The Order gives designated officers the power to make sure people clean up after their dogs; walk them responsibly and keep them out of certain areas where they could cause an issue. It also retains the existing limit on the number of dogs one person can walk at a time to six. The report also recommends two new offences. These are failing to provide a name and address and giving false ones.
There was also strong support for all the dog control measures in the public consultation. There were 283 responses. More than 93% said that failing to pick up dog faeces when in control of a dog should be an offence. 87% of respondents said not having the means to clear up after a dog they were responsible should be covered by the PSPOs. Almost 67% agreed the number of dogs a person can walk at a time should be six.
Full survey results can be found in the appendix to the Cabinet report on the council’s website.
Councillor Tracey Onslow, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, arts and Community Safety said:
“Many thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the surveys. We feel PSPOs are a way of helping us keep the district safe, clean and looking good and we are pleased the feedback supported this view. The vast majority of the time people don’t disobey the rules, but by having PSPOs in place we have the ability to tackle the minority who do. “
The Cabinet meeting will be webcast live from 6pm. It can be viewed on the council's streaming webpage. A recording of meeting will also be available.
For more information on PSPOs visit the council's PSPO webpage.