Worcester residents are being asked for their views on proposed new measures to discourage the intentional feeding of gulls, aggressive begging, and dangerous cycling and skateboarding in the city centre.
The City Council plans to introduce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that would give City Council officers and delegated partners the option to issue a fixed penalty fine of £100 to people in breach of the PSPO's terms.
Now city residents are being encouraged to give their views on the Order by going to www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit.
Cllr James Stanley, Chair of the City Council's Communities Committee, said: "This Public Space Protection Order will address three issues that we know are important to the people of Worcester. We hope this Order will be an effective deterrent, with fines only being issued as a last resort.
"Our aim is to make sure Worcester's city centre offers a safe and pleasant environment, so I want to encourage residents and businesses to give their views at www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit."
The four-week consultation was approved by the Communities Committee in March, but has been delayed because of the pandemic.
The PSPO was developed in response to a eight-week consultation last year, which asked Worcester residents for their views on anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
Following detailed analysis of the consultation responses, councillors agreed to proceed with a PSPO focused on three areas: prohibition of the intentional feeding of gulls; aggressive begging; and dangerous cycling and skateboarding in the city centre.
In enforcing the PSPO, the intention is that issuing a fixed penalty notice will always be a last resort. That would only happen after an individual had repeatedly failed to change their behaviour or engage with support that was on offer.
A wide range of support is available for rough sleepers in the city, delivered by the Council's partners including Caring for Communities and People (CCP), Maggs Day Centre and St Paul's Hostel.
