A recent consultation by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has invited the public to ‘have their say on Public Spaces Protection Orders’ online.
PSPOs are designed to tackle antisocial behaviour and disturbances in specific public areas. Anyone violating a PSPO could face a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.
Fiona Alderton, 57, from Whiston, Rotherham, said: “In my experience with Rotherham council and what they’ve done through the town centre, I would say this is a tick-box exercise.
“How on earth are the council going to enforce these orders? They can’t.”
The current approved and active PSPOs in Rotherham are in the Town Centre, Clifton Park, and Fitzwilliam Road, and a borough wide order on dog fouling.
Anne Davis, 76, lives in the Kimberworth suburb of Rotherham, and goes to Clifton Park at least twice a week. She said: “I think the public spaces protection order would be beneficial. At this moment I don’t really think it’s needed but in the future, one doesn’t know.”
A PSPO can remain in effect for a maximum of three years. The Town Centre and Clifton Park PSPOs have previously been renewed for one year. Just 151 responses were received for this consultation, with 58 percent of respondents in support of the orders.
According to Crime Rate, antisocial behaviour had continued to rise when the last PSPOs were in place in these areas, peaking in October 2022.
Jess Fish, 26, grew up in Rotherham and now lives in Sheffield. She mainly goes into town to visit her parents. Miss Fish said: “Rotherham still feels a bit run down, particularly the high street, and I definitely think there’s a big problem with antisocial behaviour and feelings of unsafety in the centre.
“People should be allowed to feel safe in their communities, and public spaces should be respected and kept clean. I think these orders will probably make people think twice in case they get a fine.”
In the Council’s 2023 agenda item of the PSPOs, it was revealed that complaints of being ‘rowdy’ or ‘inconsiderate’ were still the most significant recorded by South Yorkshire Police in terms of anti-social behaviour in the Town Centre and Clifton Park.
Trevor Alderton, 60, has been coming to this park since his 26 year old son was a child. He said: “If people use the park later on in the evening, sometimes when we come in the morning there’s one or two cans left around, but other times people have bagged it up and put it by the side of the bins. People generally are taking responsibility for their things.
“I actually think a lot of the dog walkers are really conscientious. A lot of them pick it up”
The 2023 agenda said: “The Council and partners continue to receive complaints relating to the town centre and Clifton Park from businesses, Councillors, and visitors alike.
“It is important that the Council and partners support residents and drive improvements through robust measures to tackle anti-social behaviour.”
It was reported by Crime Rate that in May 2024, Rotherham had the highest rates of antisocial behaviour out of all major towns in South Yorkshire.
Miss Fish said: “I do think the council could spend more time also trying to revive the high street and hospitality in the town centre. I’m not sure how they would do this, and I know it’s a hard time for these industries, but I think it would bring more people into the centre to shop and spend the day here.”
All members of the public interviewed were not aware of the consultation. It has been open since 18 August, and will end on 30 October 2024.