Buckinghamshire Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order consultation 2025

Feedback updated 8 Oct 2025

We asked

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are aimed at ensuring public spaces can be enjoyed free from anti-social behaviour. They provide us with legal powers to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a defined area.

We asked for your views on whether the existing Aylesbury Vale Parks and Open Spaces PSPO should be expired and a new one introduced.

The consultation ran from 6 January to 16 February 2025.

You said

We received 25 online responses to the consultation.

On the proposal to expire the current order, of the 25 who responded:

11 agreed; 6 disagreed; 8 didn’t know

On the proposed activities associated with anti-social behaviours to be included in a new order, of the 25 who responded:

consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol
- 23 agreed; 2 disagreed; 0 didn’t know
using a mechanically propelled vehicle in a way that causes for is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- 25 agreed; 0 disagreed; 1 didn’t know

It was suggested that Vale Park in Aylesbury be removed from this order and be added to the Aylesbury Town Centre Order.

More information about the consultation responses.

We did

The consultation feedback was considered and discussed with Thames Valley Police. As a result:

Vale Park was removed from the PSPO
activities in the new order were confirmed as:
- consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol
- using a mechanically propelled vehicle in a manner that causes or is likely to cause nuisance or annoyance. Prohibited behaviour includes, but is not limited to sounding horns, revving of engines, driving in a manner which causes or likely to cause danger to themselves or others, damaging property or performing stunts

On 25 September 2025, the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council agreed to discharge the Aylesbury Vale District Council PSPO and replace it with Buckinghamshire Council, Parks and Open Spaces PSPO.

Buckinghamshire Council, Parks and Open Spaces PSPO takes effect from 3 October 2025.

Overview

We are reviewing all Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) across Buckinghamshire.

We want to hear your views on our proposal to:

expire the existing Aylesbury Vale Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order, introduced by Aylesbury Vale District Council
introduce a Buckinghamshire Council, Buckinghamshire Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order

We have a key role to play in helping make local places safe to live, visit and work in. Tackling anti-social behaviour continues to be a high priority for us and our partners across the county.

Public Spaces Protection Orders are aimed at ensuring public spaces can be enjoyed free from anti-social behaviour. They provide us with legal powers to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a defined area.

It is key that we address and reduce these issues from occurring, by consulting with members of the public and other key stakeholders, in order to focus on areas of concern.

We want to hear from residents and organisations in Buckinghamshire as well as those who visit parks or open spaces in Buckinghamshire.

What is a PSPO? What is a PSPO?

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. This is achieved by imposing conditions on the use of that area, which apply to everyone.

Councils can use PSPOs to prohibit specified activities, and / or require certain things to be done by people engaged in particular activities, within a defined public area.

A single PSPO can be used to target a range of different anti-social behaviour issues. A PSPO can last for up to three years, after which it must be reviewed.

What can a PSPO be used for? What can a PSPO be used for?

PSPOs can be used to restrict a broad range of activities.

Under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, local authorities must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the activity subject to an Order:

has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality (or it is likely that activities will take place and have such an effect)
is (or is likely to be) persistent or continuing in nature
is (or is likely to be) unreasonable
justifies the restrictions being imposed

How are PSPOs are enforced? How are PSPOs are enforced?

Authorised officers from Buckinghamshire Council and the Police will be able to enforce the restrictions and requirements of a PSPO. This can include issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.

The Fixed Penalty Notice for a breach of a PSPO is £60 if paid within 10 days, and £100 if paid within 14 days.

Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

What we are proposing

The Aylesbury Vale Parks and Open Spaces PSPO was introduced on 20 October 2017, by Aylesbury Vale District Council, to address anti-social behaviour in the public place. The PSPO expires 15 October 2025.

We are proposing to:

expire the current Aylesbury Vale Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order
introduce a new Public Spaces Protection Order for Parks and Open Spaces in Buckinghamshire

We have engaged with local stakeholders, community boards, town and parish councils, Thames Valley Police, Council services, and members of the business community to develop the proposed PSPO.

The proposed PSPO will prohibit the following activities associated with anti-social behaviours:

consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol 
using a mechanically propelled vehicle in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress

It is proposed the PSPO be implemented in the following locations in Aylesbury:

Alfred Rose Memorial Park
Bateman Drive
Bedgrove Park and Spinney
Carlton Close
Aylesbury Cemetery
Dunsham Park
The Coppice
Cottesloe Open Space
Denby Walk and Victoria Park
Blackwater Drive Open Space
Edinburgh and Walton Court Playing Fields
Walton Court Centre
Elm Green
Haddington Way
Haydon Hill
Riverside Walk
Bowlers Field
Oakfield Road
Vale Park
Somerville Way
Simpson Place
Waivers Way
Whitehill

We are proposing to introduce the new PSPO to prevent:

occurrence or re-occurrence of the anti-social behaviour identified in the Order
an increase in the frequency or seriousness of the anti-social behaviour identified in the Order

By taking part in the survey, you have the opportunity to identify other types of anti-social behaviour that you think should be included in the PSPO.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

complete the online survey using the link at the end of the page
complete, and return, the printed version of the survey (PDF 0.34MB)
email us at anti-social-behaviour@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
write to us at Buckinghamshire Parks and Open Spaces PSPO consultation 2025, Community Safety Team, Buckinghamshire Council, Walton Street Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UA

If you have any questions about this activity, or require this information in another format or language, please email us anti-social-behaviour@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on Sunday 16 February 2025.

What happens next

We will review and consider the consultation responses.

The decision whether to expire the current Aylesbury Vale Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order and introduce a new Buckinghamshire Parks and Open Spaces Public Spaces Protection Order will be made before the end of September 2025.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

Areas

Aylesbury

Interests

Communities
Crime & community safety

Contact