Council to seek views on extending public space orders

Bridgend County Borough Council is planning to consult local residents over proposals that could extend existing Public Space Protection Orders in Bridgend town centre, Maesteg, Porthcawl, Pencoed and Caerau.

Designed to help tackle anti-social behaviour, the orders make it an offence for anyone to continue to consume alcohol or fail to surrender intoxicating substances when asked to do so by a police officer, police community support officer or authorised council officer.

Under the orders, dog owners using any public space in the county borough are also required to carry bags, pick up after their pets, dispose of their waste in a responsible manner, and to place dogs on leads when requested to do so by an officer. Anyone who fails to comply risks being issued with a £100 fixed penalty.

Now people are to be asked whether the orders should be extended for another three years, and whether the area known locally as the play area or ‘Wildmill adventure park’ off Quarella Road should be included.

In addition, it will ask for views on whether a gating order which restricts access between Talbot Street and Plasnewydd Street in Maesteg should be extended to cover 5.30pm-9am Mondays to Saturdays, and for 24 hours on Sundays and bank holidays.

Public Space Protection Orders have proven to be extremely effective in preventing anti-social behaviour within a public space, and help to ensure that law-abiding people can continue to use and enjoy public spaces safe from anti-social behaviour.

I want to stress that under the orders, people are still able to enjoy themselves and celebrate in a responsible manner – the orders simply enable the authorities to step in where it is necessary to respond to a problem, or prevent it from developing.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Communities