Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet is set to approve a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering nine car parks where repeated reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) have been made.
The car parks included in the proposed order are:
- Regent Street
- Theatre Royal
- Colin Campbell Court
- Western Approach
- Napier Street
- Mayflower East
- Jennycliff
- Mount Batten Pier
- Mount Batten Castle
Originally, only six car parks were considered, but Jennycliff and Mount Batten were added after repeated incidents of ASB, including noise, racing, and public disturbances.
Why the Crackdown Is Happening
The move follows a public consultation earlier this year where residents shared concerns about:
- Alcohol and drug use in car parks
- Public intimidation and disturbances
- Large car meets and motorbikes causing noise
One respondent summed up the feeling of many:
“As a woman alone, I loathe it when I see people loitering, drinking, shouting anywhere but in an enclosed space it’s even more frightening.”
What the PSPO Will Do
The PSPO will give police and council officers extra powers to:
- Move on anyone loitering or gathering without parking
- Break up large car meets or motorbike races
- Stop behaviour causing a nuisance or intimidating car park users
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said:
“It’s no secret that some of our car parks are leaving people feeling uneasy and unsafe while using them, we absolutely do not want anti-social behaviour to continue, which is why we are taking action to put a stop to this behaviour in the car parks.”
“Our residents and people who visit Plymouth should feel safe when parking their car.”
“The results from the consultation will now help us move forward with the next step, we want people to feel safe when visiting our car parks, and the PSPO will help provide reassurance to our residents and visitors.”
Support from Businesses
Steve Hughes, chief executive of Plymouth City Centre Company, welcomed the plan, calling it:
“This will be welcomed by our businesses and visitors and is a much-needed measure to make the city centre safe and more welcoming.”
When Will the Changes Take Effect?
If approved, the PSPOs are expected to come into force within the next few months.
