People banned from doing eight things at Merseyside car park for three years
People will be banned from doing eight things as a three-year public space protection order has been issued for a riverside car park in Birkenhead. Wirral Council said it was in response to “historic and ongoing incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour”.
The local authority, supported by Merseyside Police has brought in the new order, sometimes referred to as a PSPO, which covers the Alabama Way car park overlooking the Mersey and situated close to the Cammell Laird shipyard and Birkenhead Priory. The car park is part of the Wirral Circular Trail.
According to Wirral Council, “the location has seen a significant increase in the level of anti-social behaviour (ASB) being reported at the car park which led to crime prevention partners coming together to seek to obtain and implement this PSPO. This action is being taken following a review by Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team into past and recent issues being reported to both Wirral Council and Merseyside Police about incidents at Alabama Way.
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Wirral Council said: “The purpose of the PSPO is to reduce the levels of anti-social behaviour in the area and the risks associated with it - and ultimately protect residents, particularly those who live next to the car park, and improve their quality of life.”
The PSPO will prevent a number of activities taking place in the car park. This includes “being the owner, driver, or being in charge of a motor vehicle and causing or allowing amplified music, or other noise to be emitted from that vehicle in a manner causing a nuisance or annoyance to people in the locality of the Restricted Area between the hours of 8pm and 8am.”
It also includes “using any item as a portable audio device in a manner causing a nuisance or annoyance to people in the locality of the Restricted Area between the hours of 8pm and 8am” as well as “sounding motor vehicle horns other than in accordance with the Highway Code in such a manner causing a nuisance to people in the locality of the restricted area.”
Sounding motor vehicle horns “other than in accordance with the Highway Code in such a manner causing a nuisance to people in the locality of the restricted area” will also be banned as will “repeated sudden or rapid acceleration or deceleration of motor vehicles in such a manner capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance to people in the locality.”
People will also be banned from “being part of a group of two or more people surrounding or within one or more stationary vehicles between the hours of 8pm and 8am where such activity is causing a nuisance or annoyance to anyone in the locality.” Being “verbally abusive, swearing at or intimidating or threatening any members of the public” as well as “urination, defecation, spitting or littering at any time” will also be banned.
The PSPO will be in place until August 22 2027. More details can be found on the Wirral Council website