Have your say on Peterborough orders that ban cycling in Bridge street and begging near cash machines
Residents are being urged to have their say on the future of two orders in Peterborough – one of which bans cycling in Bridge Street in the city centre.
Peterborough City Council is launching a public consultation over plans to extend the city centre PSPO for a further three years, as well as varying its conditions. The authority also wants to hear people's views on plans to vary conditions of the Millfield PSPO.
Both orders were set up to tackle issues having a detrimental effect on people’s lives including anti-social behaviour and are aimed at keeping communities safe, cohesive and healthy. Anyone caught breaching a PSPO condition can face fines of up to £1,000 or Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).
The current city centre PSPO was implemented in April 2023 for a period of three years. The council is proposing to extend it for a further three years but needs to provide evidence that it will continue to prevent such issues.
Residents are being asked for their views on extending the order and varying three of its conditions relating to alcohol and anti-social behaviour. If extended, the order will give the council and Police additional powers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, improving the quality of life for communities and supporting businesses.
The Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO was re-implemented for a further three years in September 2024. As the city centre PSPO and the Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO are so closely situated and experience similar issues, the council is proposing that three conditions relating to alcohol and anti-social behaviour are also varied.
This is aimed at providing those residing, working and visiting this order area the same protections from anti-social behaviour as the city centre, and to prevent issues from the city centre being displaced to this area.
What do the PSPOs say:
City Centre PSPO
The conditions of the City Centre PSPO are as follows:
Persons within the area, on the request of a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer are to comply with the request to dispose of or surrender any containers of alcohol in their possession or disperse from the order area and not return within 6 hours, unless for a lawful reason.
No urination and/or defecation in a public place other than within designated public toilets.
No begging within 10 metres of a cash or payment machine or begging in a manner which is aggressive or intimidating or is likely to cause someone to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed.
No unauthorised cycling (i.e. in Bridge Street).
Cyclists to dismount if requested to do so by an authorised officer if they are of the opinion that the cyclist is riding in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
It is an offence under this order for any individual(s) to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any individual(s) by committing anti-social behaviour. Examples may include: use of offensive or abusive language, acting in an aggressive manner.
Any individual is to disperse from the designated order area and not return within 6 hours, unless for a lawful reason, if requested to do so by an authorised officer if the officer is of the opinion that the individual is causing harassment, alarm or distress.
No littering or spitting. It is an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and then leave, litter in any place in the open air in the defined area.
Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO
The conditions of the Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO are as follows:
Persons within the designated area, on the request of a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer are to comply with the request to dispose of or surrender any open containers of alcohol in their possession or disperse from the immediate location and not return within 6 hrs, unless for a lawful reason. Persons dispersed from the immediate location may remain within the designated area for lawful purposes.
No urination and/or defecation in a public place other than within designated public toilets.
Any individual is to disperse from the immediate location and not return within 6 hrs, unless for a lawful reason, if requested to do so by a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer if the officer is of the opinion that the individual is causing harassment, alarm or distress. Persons dispersed from the immediate location may remain within the designated area for lawful purposes.
No littering or spitting. It is an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and then leave, litter in any place in the open air in the defined area.
It is an offence under this order for any individual(s) to commit anti social behaviour, as defined by Section 2 of the 2014 Act by conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person(s) . Examples may include: use of offensive or abusive language, acting in an aggressive manner.
Persons within Stanley Recreation Ground, Stanley Road, Crawthorne Road, Brook Street car park, Broadway (from its junction with Northminster and up to Crawthorne Rd and Burghley Square junction), Fitzwilliam Street, Church Walk (from Stanley Recreation Ground up to junction with Park Road) and Park Road (from Junction with Fitzwilliam Street and up to an including junction with Burghley Square) as defined in the map outlined in red are prohibited to consume alcohol or be in possession of an open vessel containing alcohol, other than on licensed premises, where a Temporary Event Notice is in operation in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, or where there are any other authorisation i.e. Pavement Licence.
Adults are prohibited from being present in a designated children's playground area unless they are accompanying a child of 14 or under, unless the person using the play equipment/park requires the attention of a recognised carer or they are present in an official capacity or with lawful excuse.
No begging within 10 metres of a cash or payment machine or begging in a manner which is aggressive or intimidating or is likely to cause someone to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed.
“We are fully committed to working with partners, including the police, to keep members of the public safe"
The consultation is now open and runs until Friday 9 January 2026. To take part visit the council’s website at https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/engagement-hub/city-centre-and-millfield-new-england-eastfield-and-embankment-public-spaces-protection-order
Cllr Zameer Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health, said: “We are fully committed to working with partners, including the police, to keep members of the public safe and develop strong and sustainable communities, which PSPOs are helping us to achieve.
“In this case, maintaining a PSPO within the city centre and varying the Millfield PSO will support key aims of keeping our communities safe and making Peterborough an attractive place, to live, visit or work as well as supporting businesses.
“I would encourage everyone to take part in this consultation, especially businesses, community groups and people who live and work in these areas. This will only take a few minutes of your time but your feedback will be vitally important for us.”
Once the consultation is completed, feedback will be analysed before a final decision on the plans is made by the council’s Cabinet next year.
For more information about PSPOs in Peterborough visit https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/engagement-hub/city-centre-and-millfield-new-england-eastfield-and-embankment-public-spaces-protection-order