Council holds consultation on Public Spaces Protection Orders

Have your say on council powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, dogs on beaches during the summer and seagull feeding across East Devon.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is proposing to extend and make minor changes to its three existing Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO).

A public consultation asking for residents' views began on Monday, 10 October and will last until Sunday, 20 November 2022.

Among the changes being looked at are proposals to increase fixed penalty notices from £80 to £100 for anyone in breach of a PSPOs, bringing the amount up in line with other local councils.

The PSPOs cover the ‘Control of Dogs’, ‘Seashores and Promenades’ and ‘Control of Anti-Social Behaviour and the Consumption of Intoxicating Substances’.

Some of the orders apply to the whole of the district and others to specific areas such as children’s play areas, recreation areas and beaches.

The main proposed changes to the ‘Control of Dogs PSPO’ and ‘Seashores and Promenades PSPO’ include: 

• The introduction of timed seasonal dog exclusion areas at East Devon beach, allowing dog owners to walk their dogs early in the morning and later in the evening during the summer season (currently dog walkers are kept to certain areas of the beach during the season).
• An updated ‘dog on lead’ requirements along beach esplanades and at Beer Beach.
• The removal of the requirement to walk dogs on a lead on or adjacent to a public highway.

Proposed changes to the ‘Control of Anti-Social Behaviour and the Consumption of Intoxicating Substances PSPO, include: 

• The removal of requirements covering the Sidmouth town area – including more areas that enable authorised officers to dispersed groups of individuals, banning them from re-entering a defined area for 24 hours.

Once the consultation period has ended EDDC will consider the comments made and where appropriate will amend the final orders. The final orders will then be agreed by EDDC with the intention to put them in place before 1 May 2023.

The current requirements and a list of the proposed changes can be found on the East Devon District Council website.

If members of the public wish to comment they can email pspoconsultation@eastdevon.gov.uk  or send comments by post to Environmental Health, East Devon District Council, Blackdown House, Border Road, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Honiton, EX14 1EJ.