The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is consulting on plans to continue measures, which help promote responsible dog control in public places, deter dog-fouling and encourage safer cycling in town centres.
The council wants to hear people’s views on keeping in place two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), first introduced in April 2021, which are legal powers allowing councils to impose restrictions on a defined area to tackle nuisance or problem behaviour.
One PSPO allows the Community Wardens and police to enforce existing no-cycling rules by asking cyclists to stop and dismount in the busy pedestrianised areas of Peascod Street, Windsor and High Street, Maidenhead. If they do not comply, officers have the option to issue a £100 fixed penalty notice.
The other PSPOs means anyone caught dog-fouling in a public place anywhere in the borough risks a £100 fixed penalty notice. The order also allows the Community Wardens or police to ask a dog owner to put their pet on a lead if it’s loose and causing harassment, alarm or distress in a public place.
With all PSPOs only lasting for a limited time, the council is holding a four-week public consultation, until Monday 26 February 2024, on its plans to continue these PSPOs for a further three years, until March 2027.
Find out more and participate online at RBWM Together, or use the public-access computers available at all local libraries, where staff are happy to help you get online if needed. If you require paper copies of the consultation documents, these are also available from all libraries upon request.
The consultation asks participants whether or not they agree with continuing each of the PSPOs and to share any experiences with anti-social behaviour in relation to these matters. Cabinet will consider the responses and make the decision in March.
Andy Aldridge, Community Safety Manager, said: “These PSPOs have already been in place for three years and help our Community Wardens promote responsible behaviours, working towards a clean, green and safe borough.
“While these measures do give wardens the ability to issue fines, their focus is allowing wardens to have meaningful conversations with the minority of people who break the rules to encourage voluntary compliance and changes in behaviour.
“Most dog owners always follow their legal duty to pick up after their pets, bag it and bin it, however we need to ensure dog-fouling remains enforceable to continue to deter those who would otherwise pollute the environment and risk public health.
“With the cycling PSPO, our community wardens do routine spot checks and they’ve seen a reduction in cycling through these busy pedestrianised areas over the last three years. If it has prevented even one collision or near-miss between a cyclist and pedestrian, it will have been worthwhile.”
Councillor Simon Werner, Leader of the Council and Councillor for Public Protection, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for dog-fouling, which is caused by a minority of irresponsible dog owners, but unfortunately pollutes the environment for everyone.
“We want to hear what you think, and your experience of dog-fouling and cycling in these areas. We encourage all residents to share your thoughts on the proposed continuation of these PSPOs to help us decide.”