CYCLING in the town centre’s pedestrianised areas could be banned if the plan gets the thumbs-up from the public.
Rugby Borough Council (RBC) has proposed the move among a series of new Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to help combat anti-social behaviour in the borough.
The council has launched public consultations to find out what residents think about the proposed PSPOs – which also cover the taking of intoxicating substances in the town centre, anti-social behaviour at Newbold Quarry Nature Reserve, and dog control.
The plan to make cycling in pedestrianised areas an offence comes after police and residents raised concerns about a ‘craze’ of reckless cycling in the town centre in recent months.
In August, The Observer reported that police were receiving regular reports of large groups of bikes being ridden dangerously around the town centre – at times riding without helmets, riding with another person on handle bars on roads, and pulling wheelies into oncoming traffic.
And in April, Observer reader Simon Wickes told us he had nearly been knocked down on three occasions in the space of two months while walking in the pedestrianised zone.
He said he was ‘scared to bejesus’ when eight teenage boys rode towards him at ‘terrific speed’ – adding that “someone is going to get hurt.”
The other proposed PSPOs include the renewal of existing orders which cover dog control and taking intoxicating substances in the town centre.
The proposed dog control PSPO retains the terms of the current order – but introduces a new restriction requiring dog owners to have a means of picking up dog faeces when walking a dog in public.
The draft intoxicating substances PSPO also keeps the existing order’s restrictions but contains a proposal to expand the area in which they can be enforced.
Residents can also comment on plans to replace the bylaws currently in place at Newbold Quarry Nature Reserve with a PSPO.
Under a PSPO, authorised council officers and police officers can issue fixed penalty notices to individuals who refuse to comply with the terms of an order.
RBC environment and public realm spokeswoman Coun Lisa Parker said: “Public Spaces Protection Orders can be a useful tool to help tackle repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour, be it irresponsible dog owners who fail to pick up dog mess or individuals who drink or take drugs in public places.
“While we’re keen to use the powers at our disposal to make Rugby a safer place to live, work and visit, it’s also vital our communities have the opportunity to comment on the plans.
“We want to hear evidence of the anti-social behaviour we’re targeting with the proposed PSPOs and get feedback on the restrictions we’ve drafted.”
The proposed orders were drawn up after a task group of councillors investigated how PSPOs could help tackle issues which cause concern for residents.
The task group’s work included an online public consultation and ‘listening posts’ in the town centre, where councillors talked to residents to identify nuisance problems.
The Government introduced PSPOs in 2014 to give councils extra powers to combat anti-social behaviour in public places.
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/consultation for more information on the proposed PSPOs, and to take part in the consultations – which close at 5pm on Thursday January 3.
