Harrow Council has launched a consultation on a new borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour across Harrow.
The consultation, which will run for eight weeks until 15 May, seeks the views of Harrow residents and businesses on the PSPO, which aims to crack down on anti-social behaviour, littering, street drinking, and uncontrolled dogs in parks. The order will allow for immediate enforcement action to be taken against anyone caught committing environmental crimes, including driving over footpaths and failing to pick up dog mess.
Cllr Anjana Patel, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety said: “I want to see a clean and safe borough for our residents, businesses and visitors. Sadly there is a small minority who simply don’t care and are making some areas in Harrow a dirty and unpleasant place to live and work – and that is totally unacceptable.
“We want to renew and extend our Public Spaces Protection Order so that we can restore pride in our communities and continue to take tough action against those ruining our neighbourhoods or causing a nuisance to others. Please have your say on the consultation.”
On the Harrow Council website, they state that they want to introduce a PSPO to cover the whole of Harrow with ‘five distinct localities’ which are –
- The whole borough
- Housing estates
- Parks and green spaces
- Town centres: Harrow Town Centre, Pinner, Stanmore, Wealdstone, Hatch End, Harrow Weald, South Harrow, North Harrow, Rayners Lane, Belmont, Sudbury Hill, Kenton, Kingsbury Edgware and Burnt Oak
- Bentley Priory Nature Reserve, Pinner Memorial Park and the Viewpoint’
They state that the PSPO would make it easier for the council to take action against environmental crimes, with offenders facing prosecution and conviction by the Magistrates Court or fines in lieu of court action. The council hopes that the PSPO will also act as a deterrent to would-be offenders and improve the cleanliness and safety of Harrow’s communities.
Residents and businesses in Harrow are encouraged to have their say on the proposed PSPO measures. The consultation will end on 15 May, and the council will review the feedback received before making a final decision on the PSPO.