Chiltern area car parks Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultation 2022

Closed 28 Nov 2022

Opened 31 Oct 2022

Feedback updated 17 Mar 2023

We asked

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.

We asked for views on how the PSPO was addressing anti-social behaviour in the area and whether it should be extended for a further 3 years.

The consultation ran from 31 October to 28 November 2022.

You said

We received 33 responses to the consultation:

  • 48% thought there was a problem with anti-social behaviour in the car parks, 33% didn’t know
  • 27% thought anti-social behaviour had reduced since the PSPO was introduced, 58% didn’t know
  • 88% thought the PSPO should be extended for a further three years, 6% didn’t know.

Responses from Thames Valley Police indicate complaints have reduced. The order has been a key feature of police operations to tackle anti-social behaviour in these car parks.

Police and council officer patrols have seen a decrease in anti-social behaviour.

For more information, please see the consultation findings report (PDF 0.53MB).

We did

On 15 February 2023, the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council agreed to extend the Chiltern area car parks Public Spaces Protection Order for a further three years.

Without this order there is likely to be an increase in the frequency or seriousness of anti-social behaviour.

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council logo

We want to hear your views on our proposal to extend an existing Public Spaces Protection Order in 21 council-controlled car parks in the Chiltern area of Buckinghamshire.

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.

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.

We want to hear from residents and organisations in the Chiltern area of Buckinghamshire as well as those who visit the area.

Information about Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs):

More Information

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 3 years, after which it must be reviewed.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

Chiltern area car parks Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

The Chiltern area car parks PSPO was introduced on 2 May 2018 to address anti-social behaviour in the public place.

More Information

This order covers the 21 car parks listed below:

  • Amersham
    • Amersham Old Town Car Park, The Broadway, Amersham Old Town, HP7 OHL
    • Chiltern Avenue Car Park, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham-on-the-Hill, HP6 5AH
    • Chiltern Pools Car Park, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham on the Hill, HP6 5AH
    • Civic Centre Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham-on-the-Hill, HP6 5AW
    • Council Offices Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham HP6 5AW
    • Multi-Storey Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham, HP6 5AP
    • Sycamore Road Car Park, Rickmansworth Road, Amersham, HP6 5EQ
  • Chalfonts
    • Blizzards Yard Car Park, High Street, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4QA
    • Cheena Meadow Car Park, Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 OQJ
    • Church Lane Car Park, Church Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 90S
    • Snells Wood Car Park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, HP7 9QA
  • Chesham
    • Albany Car Park, St Marys Way, Chesham, HP5 1LL
    • Catlins Car Park, Blucher Street Chesham, HP5 1DS
    • Chesham Station Car Park, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DB
    • East Street Car Park, East Street, Chesham, HP5 1DA
    • Moor Road Car Park, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1SE
    • Star Yard Car Park, Blucher Street Chesham, HP5 1DS
    • Watermeadow Car Park, Weylands Court, Germain Street Chesham, HP5 1LF
  • Great Missenden
    • Buryfield Car Park, Link Road, Great Missenden HP16 9AE
    • Link Road Car Park, Link Road, Great Missenden, HP16 9AE
  • Prestwood
    • Prestwood High Street Car Park, High Street, Prestwood, HP16 9ER

The PSPO prohibits the use of a motor vehicle, or creation of noise from a motor vehicle, or behaviour by a person in a way likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to a member of the public, or a risk of harm, damage or injury to a person or property.

More Information

The following restrictions apply in the car parks listed in the PSPO:

  • No person being a driver of, or in control of a motor vehicle in any part of the restricted area, shall:
    • Rev (i.e. accelerate, whilst the vehicle’s clutch is disengaged) an engine of a motor vehicle;
    • Suddenly or rapidly accelerate a motor vehicle;
    • Race with any other motor vehicle;
    • Leave the engine of a motor vehicle running on idle other than when queueing to park or depart;
    • Perform any motor vehicle stunts;
    • Sound a horn repetitively; or
    • Play music audible outside of the motor vehicle
  • No person in any part of the restricted area shall:
    • Use behaviour towards another person reasonably perceived to be threatening, aggressive or intimidating;
    • Use foul or abusive language;
    • Gather or loiter with any other person(s) in a manner which is (or may reasonably be perceived as) intimidating or threatening to any other member of the public;
    • Use any part of the Restricted Area for skating (whether using inline or roller skates), skateboarding or playing ball games;
    • Use any part of the Restricted Area for cycling in a manner which is (or may reasonably be perceived as) intimidating or threatening to any other member of the public

Anyone continuing to carry out any of the above activities in the restricted area is committing an offence.

For full details and conditions of the Order, please see the Chiltern area car parks PSPO document (PDF 0.12MB).

The PSPO was extended for a further 2 years from 8 April 2021.

What we are proposing / consulting on

We are proposing to extend the Chiltern area car parks Public Spaces Protection Order for a further 3 years.

An extension is being proposed to prevent:

  • Occurrence or re-occurrence of the activities identified in the Order, or
  • An increase in the frequency or seriousness of the activities identified in the Order

If not extended, the Chiltern area car parks PSPO will expire on 7 April 2023.

We want to hear your views on how the PSPO is addressing anti-social behaviour in the area and whether you think the PSPO should be extended.

Related documents

Before you respond to this consultation, please have a look at the following document:

How to have your say

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

If you have any questions about this activity, please email us anti-social-behaviour@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or phone us on 0300 131 6000.

Please tell us your views by midnight on Monday 28 November 2022.

What happens next

We will review and consider the consultation responses.

The decision whether to extend the Chiltern area car parks Public Spaces Protection Order will be made before the end of March 2023.

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

  • Amersham
  • Chesham and Villages
  • Denham, Gerrards Cross and Chalfonts
  • Missendens

Interests

  • Communities
  • Crime & community safety