A Derbyshire council is set to approve fines up to £1,000 for anti-social behaviour on a town marketplace and for nuisance driving across an entire borough.
Amber Valley Borough Council is due to approve the new public space protection orders at a meeting on Wednesday, April 3.
This includes a series of measures, including fines up to £1,000, for “nuisance” anti-social driving, including performing doughnuts, drifting, handbrake turns, excessive revving and wheel spinning – said to be “blighting” the borough.
In a separate order, restrictions and fines up to £1,000 would also apply for anti-social behaviour on Heanor marketplace including banning people for two days and curbs for face coverings such as balaclavas, loud music and the “malicious” riding of bikes, scooters or other equipment.
Public consultation for the Heanor marketplace measures is still ongoing but the council’s Labour cabinet is set to sign off on the plans before it is complete due to the “urgency” of the ongoing situation, a report details.
It says public consultation closes five days after the decision on the plans is due to be held, finishing on April 8.
The cabinet would delegate authority to Cllr Emma Monkman, the cabinet member for regeneration and community safety and the council’s deputy leader, to bring in the marketplace restrictions pending consideration of any further remaining public comments which may be made.
A report from the council says: “The report recommendations should be considered as urgent due to anti-social behaviour related to Heanor Marketplace prior to its closure for refurbishment.
“The recommendation is time sensitive as the timing of the proposed PSPO would need to coincide with the impending re-opening of Heanor Marketplace.
“Early indications, based on the consultation responses received so far, are that the proposed PSPO would be welcomed, with only one respondent so far disagreeing with the proposed PSPO.”
The council previously said balaclava-wearing young people riding bikes and causing distress were behind the move for restrictions on the marketplace.
Its full list of new restrictions would be:
Asking groups or three or more people to leave the area and not return for 48 hours if they are believed to be harassing others
Asking people to dismount from a bike, skateboard, scooter or hoverboard or other electronic or motorised devices if they are riding in a malicious and/or dangerous manner aimed causing harassment, alarm or distress
Asking people to remove face coverings if worn in an attempt to conceal their identity to cause harassment, alarm or distress
Asking people to stop playing unreasonably loud music from any device or vehicle if it is believed to be causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
Meanwhile, on the nuisance driving order, the council says the “overwhelming consensus” from its concluded consultation is support for the new restrictions.
It says: “Some of the individual comments received seemed to indicate that they felt there should be better organisation and collaboration in relation to car meet/events and they felt it was a small minority causing the anti-social behaviour.
“It was suggested that designated locations should be provided to allow people to enjoy their hobby safely.
“Some individuals also identified the challenge on how the PSPO will be enforced and monitored once the PSPO is adopted.
“The introduction of a PSPO is not intended to penalise residents enjoying a hobby; those individuals who choose to gather for an organised, managed car event that have no negative impact on the community, for example a classic car event should not be negatively impacted by the order as it would not be expected that any of the prohibited activities would take place at such an event.”
It says priority spots for signs advertising the new car nuisance fines, based on council and police data are:
Slack Lane, Heanor
Shipley Country Park
Nottingham Road, Alfreton
Westway, Alfreton
Hall Street, Alfreton
Birchwood Way, Alfreton
Derby Road, Ripley
Sherwood Street, Alfreton
This is the full list of activities which would be “prohibited” under the planned new order:
Performing stunts using a motor vehicle, including but not limited to performing doughnuts, drifting, skidding, handbrake turns and wheel spinning
Causing a danger or risk of injury to road users (including pedestrians) by speeding or racing in a motor vehicle
Causing an obstruction on a public highway, whether moving or stationary, including driving in convoy in a motor vehicle
Causing or allowing loud amplified music, or other loud noise to be emitted from a motor vehicle or from a portable device (so as to cause a nuisance)
Promoting, publicising or organising any car cruise or car cruising event to occur within the restricted area (the whole of Amber Valley) by the internet, social media, email, hoardings, publications or adverts
Sounding motor vehicle horns other than in accordance with the Highway Code in such a manner as to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area (the whole of Amber Valley)
Revving of motor vehicle engines so as to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area (anyone in Amber Valley)
The council says the breach of either the Heanor or nuisance driving orders is a criminal offence and would be liable, on conviction, to a fine of up to £1,000.
On-the-spot fixed penalty notices of up to £100 can be issued by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) or specific council officers.
