Cabinet has agreed to continue measures helping to promote responsible dog control in public places and encourage safer cycling in town centres. Councillors also agreed to consult the public on a suggestion put forward by local cycling groups.
Last night’s decision follows a successful public consultation and means two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), legal orders first introduced in April 2021, have now been extended for a further three years, before they expire next month.
The first 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.
After considering consultation feedback, Cabinet has asked officers to carry out a follow-up consultation on a suggestion put forward by several local cycling groups, to amend this PSPO so it only operates from 10am to 5pm, aligning with restrictions placed on motor vehicles in these locations.
The second PSPOs means anyone caught dog-fouling in a public place anywhere in the borough will continue to risk 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.
The consultation ran for four weeks and asked participants whether they agree with continuing each of the PSPOs. The vast majority of the 297 respondents agreed that the PSPOs should be continued.
Councillor Simon Werner, Leader of the Council and Councillor for Public Protection, said: “The renewal of these PSPOs will help our Community Wardens to promote responsible behaviour in the borough. We’d like to thank everyone who responded to this consultation and shared their feedback – there’s clearly wide support for continuing these PSPOs.
“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.
“We’d particularly like to thank cycling groups for their suggestion. We have listened and feel it has the potential to allow us to improve measures to still promote safer cycling during the busiest periods while supporting active travel outside of those times. We are required to conduct a follow-up consultation on this idea, which will start in due course.”