Have your Say on continuing PSPOs in Council Car Parks

The Forum’s Comment
Provisions of the PSPO
Which Car Parks are covered?

Buckinghamshire Council is now surveying residents, businesses and anyone with an interest on whether the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) at 21 council-controlled car parks in the Chiltern area should be extended.

https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/chiltern-carparks-pspo/

PSPOs were introduced by the The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allowing Councils to deal with a specific nuisance or problem in a defined area. These are problems that negatively affect the quality of life for local people. The order imposes conditions on the use of that area and these conditions apply to everybody.

The order for the 21 car parks has been in place since 2018 and is due to expire at the end of April 2021. It “prohibits the use of a motor vehicle, or creation of noise from a motor vehicle, or behaviour by a person in a way likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to a member of the public, or a risk of harm, damage or injury to a person or property.”

The consultation, along with further details about the PSPO, timings, the names of the 21 car parks and maps of their locations can be found at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/chiltern-carparks-pspo/ . There is also the chance to add any comments that you feel need to be considered.

The closing date for this consultation is 21 February 2021.

Buckinghamshire Council will review the comments received and make a final decision on the PSPO extensions by the end of April 2021. If agreed, the order will be extended for either one or two further years.

The Forum’s Comment

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) regularly features among the top three or four in our surveys of residents’ concerns. It is a fact that there is no such crime as ‘Anti Social Behaviour’. Sometimes it can be tackled by direct intervention of the Police. In many cases, successfully addressing the concerns of the public requires involvement of several agencies, and other tools.

Bad behaviour in Chiltern’s car parks has taken many forms, from ‘casual’ nuisance, to instances of dangerous car races. Many residents may be surprised to know that these orders are in place.

PSPOs are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a particular area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone. They are designed to ensure the law-abiding majority can use and enjoy public spaces, safe from anti-social behaviour. It would surprise us if the majority of respondents did not vote for extension of the PSPOs.

Provisions of the Order

The following restrictions apply in the car parks covered:

No person being a driver of, or in control of a motor vehicle in any part of the restricted area, shall:

• Rev (i.e. accelerate, whilst the vehicle’s clutch is disengaged) an engine of a motor vehicle;
• Suddenly or rapidly accelerate a motor vehicle;
• Race with any other motor vehicle;
• Leave the engine of a motor vehicle running on idle other than when queueing to park or depart;
• Perform any motor vehicle stunts;
• Sound a horn repetitively; or
• Play music audible outside of the motor vehicle

No person in any part of the restricted area shall:

• Use behaviour towards another person reasonably perceived to be threatening, aggressive or intimidating;
• Use foul or abusive language;
• Gather or loiter with any other person(s) in a manner which is (or may reasonably be perceived as) intimidating or threatening to any other member of the public;
• Use any part of the Restricted Area for skating (whether using inline or roller skates), skateboarding or playing ball games;
• Use any part of the Restricted Area for cycling in a manner which is (or may reasonably be perceived as) intimidating or threatening to any other member of the public

Car Parks covered by the Order

Amersham

• Amersham Old Town Car Park, The Broadway, Amersham Old Town, HP7 OHL
• Chiltern Avenue Car Park, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham-on-the-Hill, HP6 5AH
• Chiltern Pools Car Park, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham on the Hill, HP6 5AH
• Civic Centre Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham-on-the-Hill, HP6 5AW
• Council Offices Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham HP6 5AW
• Multi-Storey Car Park, King George V Road, Amersham, HP6 5AP
• Sycamore Road Car Park, Rickmansworth Road, Amersham, HP6 5EQ

Chalfonts

• Blizzards Yard Car Park, High Street, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4QA
• Cheena Meadow Car Park, Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 OQJ
• Church Lane Car Park, Church Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 90S
• Snells Wood Car Park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, HP7 9QA

Chesham

• Albany Car Park, St Marys Way, Chesham, HP5 1LL
• Catlins Car Park, Blucher Street Chesham, HP5 1DS
• Chesham Station Car Park, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DB
• East Street Car Park, East Street, Chesham, HP5 1DA
• Moor Road Car Park, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1SE
• Star Yard Car Park, Blucher Street Chesham, HP5 1DS
• Watermeadow Car Park, Weylands Court, Germain Street Chesham, HP5 1LF

Great Missenden

• Buryfield Car Park, Link Road, Great Missenden HP16 9AE
• Link Road Car Park, Link Road, Great Missenden, HP16 9AE

Prestwood

• Prestwood High Street Car Park, High Street, Prestwood, HP16 9ER