Council proposes city centre public nuisance rules

New rules on antisocial behaviour and public nuisance, including restrictions on loud sound equipment and gazebos, are being proposed by Coventry City Council.

The city centre's current public space protection order (PSPO) will expire in November.

The council wants to renew the order and make changes to tackle any behaviour that causes "harassment, alarm, or distress".

As well as current restrictions on busking, e-bikes and skateboarders, the updated PSPO will also target disturbance caused by loud sound equipment and the erection of temporary structures, such as gazebos and stalls.

The proposed order will also cover the use of amplification equipment, including loud sound systems used by street preachers, campaigners, performers and other public speakers, which the council said had been identified as sources of complaints and disruption.

Council officers told a meeting the current order required renewal to ensure that appropriate powers remained in place to manage antisocial behaviour and public nuisance.

"The current PSPO was reviewed in November 2023 and included the restriction of e-bikes in certain areas of the city centre," they said.

"Looking at the order now, there's a need to ensure that restrictions are clearly focused on behaviours that meet the statutory tests of causing harassment, alarm and distress, and that they are proportionate, enforceable and legally robust."

Existing provisions relating to busking, cycling, skateboarding, e-bikes and e-scooters would be retained and refined, the council added.

Council officers said provisions based solely on not having a licence or permission were not enough to prevent some nuisance activities, so a broader approach was needed.

Councillor John McNicholas, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, told the meeting: "We get lots of complaints about e-bikes so it's pointless having this provision unless it's enforced. It is important that we respond to the concerns raised by the general public."

Council officers explained that since restrictions on e-bikes were first added in 2023, community safety officers had spoken to many of the riders, informing them of the rules and carrying out enforcement with penalty notices where necessary.

The meeting approved the recommendation for a consultation on renewing the order with a revised, behaviour-based approach.

A four-week consultation on the changes with members of the public, local businesses and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner will be carried out between 29 June and 26 July.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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