joshua
Well-Known Forumite
New rules banning so called chuggers from Stafford Town Centre are now in force.
The new ‘Public Spaces Protection Orders’ (PSPOs) have been introduced to help tackle local issues and came in to force on Monday (7 December)
The move follows ongoing complaints from shoppers and workers around the town about being ‘harassed’ by groups who are trying to get people to sign up to direct debits for national charities. The groups are often referred to as chuggers.
In future the ‘chuggers’ – and utility company salespeople - will have to apply to the council for permission to come to the county town and be confined to a designated area only. Local charities can also contact the council directly.
Residents and businesses were asked for their views on proposed changes to the existing PSPOs as part of an extensive public consultation earlier this year. Stafford Borough Council has worked with a number of organisations including the police, town centre partnership and residents’ associations regarding the new rules.
The ‘Orders’ are designed to deal with problems in a specific area that are detrimental to the quality of life for the local community. A PSPO can ban or restrict certain behaviour and anyone not complying is given a warning - and can be fined for breaching it.
Signs are being put up in areas where the PSPOs are in force.
Councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said: “Residents have told us that they want our town centres to be welcoming places. They must be places where people can spend leisure time, shop, relax, or even set up a business and we don’t want that ruined by anti-social behaviour, alcohol related issues, or other forms of nuisance.
“One of the nuisances complained of by our residents and visitors is that these pushy salespeople employed by charities are harassing them, and retailers have mentioned that customers say they have been put off coming to town.
“But we will continue supporting charities through initiatives such as our small grants scheme and our funding agreements with the voluntary sector.”
He added “Thank you to all those who gave us their feedback as part of the consultation on these proposed changes. It is important we work with our partners and the community to make sure we do what we can to help people enjoy a better quality of life - as well as making our town centre an important and thriving place for all in our community to want to visit and spend time in.”
Full details on the new PSPOs can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/pspo
The new ‘Public Spaces Protection Orders’ (PSPOs) have been introduced to help tackle local issues and came in to force on Monday (7 December)
The move follows ongoing complaints from shoppers and workers around the town about being ‘harassed’ by groups who are trying to get people to sign up to direct debits for national charities. The groups are often referred to as chuggers.
In future the ‘chuggers’ – and utility company salespeople - will have to apply to the council for permission to come to the county town and be confined to a designated area only. Local charities can also contact the council directly.
Residents and businesses were asked for their views on proposed changes to the existing PSPOs as part of an extensive public consultation earlier this year. Stafford Borough Council has worked with a number of organisations including the police, town centre partnership and residents’ associations regarding the new rules.
The ‘Orders’ are designed to deal with problems in a specific area that are detrimental to the quality of life for the local community. A PSPO can ban or restrict certain behaviour and anyone not complying is given a warning - and can be fined for breaching it.
Signs are being put up in areas where the PSPOs are in force.
Councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said: “Residents have told us that they want our town centres to be welcoming places. They must be places where people can spend leisure time, shop, relax, or even set up a business and we don’t want that ruined by anti-social behaviour, alcohol related issues, or other forms of nuisance.
“One of the nuisances complained of by our residents and visitors is that these pushy salespeople employed by charities are harassing them, and retailers have mentioned that customers say they have been put off coming to town.
“But we will continue supporting charities through initiatives such as our small grants scheme and our funding agreements with the voluntary sector.”
He added “Thank you to all those who gave us their feedback as part of the consultation on these proposed changes. It is important we work with our partners and the community to make sure we do what we can to help people enjoy a better quality of life - as well as making our town centre an important and thriving place for all in our community to want to visit and spend time in.”
Full details on the new PSPOs can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/pspo