Ashfield District Council are currently asking for residents' comments on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which would come into force on 1st October 2021 and remain in place for three years.

A PSPO is a legal order which gives the Council the powers to use enforcement actions to deal with nuisance behaviours in designated areas across the District.

Ashfield District Council currently have a PSPO in place until 30th September 2021, which covers eight areas across Ashfield and prohibits behaviours such as street drinking and dog fouling. Community Protection Officers and the police can issue Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone who breaches the order. The fine is £100, and failure to pay can lead to a summary conviction and a maximum fine of £1000.

The proposed order includes restrictions on:

• Alcohol consumption in a designated area

• Urinating/defecating within a designated area

• Dog fouling in specified areas

• Failing to produce device or other means of removing dog faeces on demand

• Dogs on lead by direction

• Dogs specified maximum amount

• Dog exclusion in specified areas

• Dogs on leads in specified areas

• Direction to move on

Residents have until 23rd August 2021 to have their say on the consultation.

Cllr Helen Ann Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Crime Reduction, said "The current PSPO has been incredibly effective as a tool to help us combat anti-social behaviour across our town centres. It has allowed us to use our enforcement powers over the last three years and our Community Safety Team have been busy issuing hundreds of FPNs to offenders. By extending this PSPO, we can continue the excellent work and commit to our priority of creating safer and cleaner town centres to live in and visit.

"We welcome your comments on this consultation, if you think we are tackling anti-social and nuisance behaviour effectively, or if you think there are areas we could improve upon, please let us know. Your voice matters, and we always take onboard resident feedback."

You can respond to the consultation on the Council's website here .