Chesterfield Borough Council is asking residents and businesses for their views on renewing the town centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for a further three years. The council announced the proposal on the back of a 22% fall in reported anti-social behaviour incidents since the order was last renewed in December 2023.
The PSPO was first introduced in 2017 and covers the town centre, with its boundary extended in 2023 to include Chatsworth Road and into Brampton. The current order is due to expire in December 2026.
What the PSPO covers
The renewed order would continue to target specific behaviours in the designated areas, including:
- Banning behaviour that causes nuisance, alarm, or distress to another person
- Banning loitering around cash machines, shopping centre entrances, shop entrances, car park ticket machines and payment machines to beg for money
- Banning putting up or using a tent or other temporary structure without the landowner's permission
- Banning leaving personal belongings unattended
- Enabling police or authorised enforcement officers to require anyone drinking alcohol on the streets within the town centre to hand over open or unopened alcohol tins or bottles
- Banning urinating or defecating in public outside of a public toilet
Councillor Jean Innes, cabinet member for housing at Chesterfield Borough Council, said the order has had a positive impact on communities. "Over the past few years, the town centre PSPO has helped to reduce ASB in the town centre and the Chatsworth Road area. However, we know there is still work to be done and we are proposing to extend the current PSPO for a further three years so we can continue to enforce the same rules, tackle nuisance behaviour and support those who need help," Councillor Innes said.
How to have your say
The consultation runs until Monday 16 November. Residents and businesses can take part online or send comments in writing to Chesterfield Community Safety Partnership, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield S40 1LP.