Council says it is going to crack down on people peeing in public
Huntingdonshire District Council wants to crack down on public urination and defecation in a Cambridgeshire town centre. They are looking to put a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place in Ramsey.
The order follows an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour in the town. People living, working and travelling in the area have expressed concerns over a number of issues.
In addition to public urination and defecation, they highlighted behaviours such as public intoxication, substance misuse, and intimidating behaviour to residents and businesses. A consultation has been launched, asking for views on the proposed order.
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The conditions of the order would include:
No open vessels of alcoholic/intoxicating substance in the area of the order (unless prior permission has been granted by the Local Authority for the purpose of an arranged public event)
No personal use of narcotic substances (unless being consumed for medicinal purposes and are prescribed by a medical professional)
No public defecation/urination (unless doing so in a public toilet or a private toilet with the property owner's permission)
No intimidating behaviour (this includes but is not limited to aggressive shouting at any person, any offensive language, physical altercation, street harassment (heckling or cat-calling passersby); excessive noise and behaviours that cause alarm and distress)
The order would apply to the town centre as well as immediate areas. This includes the B1040 to Great Whyte (north-west and south-east between the roundabout connecting to Stocking Fen Road, to the Junction High Street), New Road (from Great Whyte including Newton Green), Mews Close and any linking routes through from Great Whyte and Mews Close Car Park.
If successful, the order would also apply to all publicly accessible land, including green spaces, recreational land and graveyards within the boundary. The above conditions would also be enforced by both the district council and Cambridgeshire Police.
Residents have until Monday, September 23 to provide feedback on the proposed order. More information can be found by clicking here.
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