Green light recommended for first car cruising PSPO

A draft Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) – prohibiting meetings of two or more cars or motorbikes where resulting behaviour causes harassment, alarm and distress to communities – is recommended for approval by council officers following a 12-week consultation exercise which shows that most local respondents support the proposals.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has prepared the draft PSPO, and asked for stakeholders’ views, following an increase in car cruising in multiple locations across the borough and a subsequent rise in complaints from residents and businesses.

The proposed order – the first of its type in the borough – is designed to stop any meeting on local roads, or public spaces, where a vehicle or occupant engages in specific types of anti-social behaviour that negatively impact on residents. It does not target charity ride events and other people going about their lawful business.

A person found to be in breach of the order, if it’s approved, would be liable for a fixed penalty notice of £100 or a court fine of up to £1,000.

A decision will be made by the Licensing and Public Protection Committee on 29 October.

Cllr. Gill Heesom, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Well-being, said:

Persistent car cruising is an ongoing issue in Newcastle-under-Lyme, despite alternative enforcement techniques, which could get worse as a result of similar action being taken by neighbouring authorities. The main problem area at the moment is the A34, coming from Talke, and there have also been recent issues on Clayton Road and Parksite industrial estate in Chesterton.

 

We want our communities to be happy, healthy and have a good quality of life. Residents and businesses have repeatedly told us, and Staffordshire Police, that booming music, dangerous driving, wheel spinning and other behaviour linked to cruising – which can include motorbikes – is causing them significant disruption and misery, often late at night.

 

Car cruising is having a detrimental impact in the borough so having an appropriate PSPO in place would give Staffordshire Police the ability to take swift action, when needed, to deter and prevent associated unwanted behaviour. The outcome of our consultation shows that the majority of local people are in favour of it. I want to be very clear that there is no intention to target events such as charity rides, or drivers and bikers going about their lawful business or leisure pursuits; this is about wanting to challenge those who regularly use their vehicles in an anti-social manner and persistently cause distress.”

Behaviours listed in the draft order include –

• Causing a danger to other road users or property by speeding or racing
• Driving in convoy
• Performing stunts
• Repeatedly sounding horns
• Playing music excessively loud
• Using foul or abusive language
• Using threatening, intimidating behaviour towards another person
• Obstructing a public highway or public place
• Promoting, organising or publicising car cruising

The PSPO would be enforced by Staffordshire Police when they deemed necessary, when providing information and advice wasn’t an option.

Inspector James Howard, of Newcastle local policing team (LPT), added:

We are committed to ensuring public safety across the county. Car cruising, where drivers meet on the public highway or large public car parks to race or show their vehicles to others, can pose serious risks to public safety.

 

In recent years, they have gained popularity, often drawing large numbers of cars. It’s important we tackle the distress local residents experience through anti-social driving involving excessive noise and speeding.”