Public Space Protection Orders Consultation

We are consulting on two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs). PSPOs create legal powers to help authorities address specific anti-social behaviour issues in an area that are having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community.

Barbecues and fires in our parks and open spaces

One of the PSPOs will help reduce fire risk and environmental harm caused by barbecues and fires in council parks and other open spaces owned and maintained by the Royal Borough. We are consulting on this PSPO. Lighting barbecues or fires should not be permitted in our parks, because it causes fire risk and environmental harm. This includes damage to grass and wildlife, as well as littering of food packaging, spent charcoal and disposable barbeques.

Most people respect local parks and the rules – but unfortunately every summer there are those who light barbecues and fires in parks, ignoring the signage and our Community Wardens, thereby causing a fire hazard and environmental harm. The PSPO allows this rule to be enforced in parks and open spaces owned and managed by the Royal Borough.

If the proposal is approved, our Community Wardens or other authorised officers will have the option to issue a £100 fixed penalty notice to those who refuse to comply. Issuing any fines will be at the officer’s discretion, but the purpose of this PSPO is not to issue fines – the aim is to support our Community Wardens in having effective conversations with those who break the rules, to ideally encourage voluntary compliance, prevent repeated behaviour and ensure everyone follows the rules.

Alcohol-related anti-social behaviour

The other PSPO provides legal powers to help the council and police with tackling anti-social behaviour related to the drinking of alcohol in public spaces. We are consulting on these powers. If the proposal is approved, this PSPO will allow police or other authorised officers to ask someone causing anti-social behaviour to stop drinking or hand over their alcohol, and issue a £100 fixed penalty notice if that person does not comply.

This is not a blanket ban on drinking alcohol in public spaces: the focus squarely remains on tackling anti-social behaviour related to drinking in public spaces where there is higher risk of issues, including our town centres. The option for people to drink responsibly is retained, while the PSPO is there to support the council and police in working together to tackle anti-social behaviour, supporting community safety and the quality of life for residents.

Consultation: How to have your say

We encourage residents to state whether they agree or disagree with the proposed Public Space Protection Orders, to offer any further comments or suggestions, and share experiences of any other anti-social behaviour issues in public spaces. Your feedback will be analysed and shared with all councillors to help inform future discussions and decisions at Cabinet concerning the proposed continuation of these PSPOs.

Please view the draft versions of the orders on the right-hand side and fill out our survey below to have your say. The consultation process will end on Thursday 10 September 2026.

To see our privacy notice, please click here.