The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that covers Burnley town centre was due for renewal in 2022 and, following work by Council Officers and partners from key stakeholders, the existing Order has been reviewed and in response to emerging issues affecting the town centre, the following Order is being proposed:
Prohibited Activities
a) Begging on the Street.
No person shall, whilst within the Prohibition Area, place themselves in a position that implies that they are begging for money or attempting to solicit.
b) Those under 16 in the area 11pm – 5am
Any person in the Prohibition Area between the hours of 11pm and 5am, being unable to provide evidence that they are over the age of 16, must be accompanied by a responsible adult. If unaccompanied that person must leave the Prohibition Area immediately after being required to do so by an Authorised Officer unless their place of residence is within the Prohibition Area, in which case they must return there.
c) Those under 14 in the area 9pm – 5am (new variation for November 2022)
Any person in the Prohibition Area between the hours of 9pm and 5am, being unable to provide evidence that they are over the age of 14, must be accompanied by a responsible adult. If unaccompanied that person must leave the Prohibition Area immediately after being required to do so by an Authorised Officer unless their place of residence is within the Prohibition Area, in which case they must return there.
d) Misuse of skateboards, bicycles and scooters.
No person shall, at any time, use a skateboard, bicycle, scooter or similar wheeled conveyance in a manner that they know, or ought to know, will cause alarm, harassment or distress to others nearby.
e) People urinating or defecating in a public place.
No person shall urinate or defecate in a public place (other than public toilets).
f) Unsolicited charity collection and face to face sales.
No person shall engage in or knowingly cause or permit the collection of or soliciting of money (whether by way of immediate payment, seeking a direct debit authority or standing order, or the selling of goods for charitable purpose) whilst within the Prohibition Area unless they have complied with the Burnley Council Collections and face to face Sales Code of Conduct.
New Prohibitions for November 2022
g) Street trading
No person shall engage in peddling or trading goods whilst within the Prohibition Area unless they comply with the Burnley Council Collections and Face to Face Sales Code of Conduct.
h) Consumption of alcohol on the street
No person shall, whilst within the Prohibition Area, consume alcohol or have an open alcohol container after having been requested by an authorised person to cease consumption or hand over the container, unless the consumption of alcohol is on premises or in public spaces licensed under the Licensing Act 2003, or where the consumption of alcohol is authorised pursuant to section 115E Highways Act 1980.
i) Intoxicating Substances
No person shall, whilst within the Prohibition Area, ingest, inhale, inject, smoke or otherwise use intoxicating substances. An exemption will apply in cases where the Intoxicating Substance is being used for valid and demonstrable medical use, given to an animal as a medical remedy, are legitimate tobacco products or vaporisers or are food stuffs regulated by food health and safety legislation.
j) Use of Amplifiers
No person shall continue to use a loudspeaker or amplification by electronic means on the public highway within the Prohibition Area after having been requested by an Authorised Officer to cease from doing so.
A full copy of the draft order is linked below, complete with a map showing the prohibition area.
You can see the existing PSPO at the following link.
