Give your views on Vehicular Nuisance Public Space Protection Order

The public is invited to submit its views on proposals to enforce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent car cruising and other vehicular nuisance across the entire Borough.
If approved, the PSPO which would prevent a wide range of antisocial activities associated with car meets and last three years.

The consultation, which runs until Monday, 5 September 2022 and can be completed on the Colchester Borough Council website, follows complaints to both the council and the police from residents and visitors about anti-social behaviour associated with Car cruising – where drivers of two or more vehicles (including motorcycles) congregate to race against each other, drive at excessive speed, rev engines, perform stunts, sound horns, play amplified music or cause an obstruction.

The PSPO, if adopted, will restrict the following activities:

• Engaging in, promoting, encouraging, or assisting in the carrying out of any activity connected to the use of a motor vehicle including but not limited to a “car cruising”
• Congregating or loitering as part of a group surrounding or within one or more stationary vehicles at any time where such activity causes noise, exhaust fumes, harassment, alarm, or distress 
• Participating or attending in a car cruising event to supply or sell to those present any food, drink, goods, or services, except at an organised professional event congregating or loitering as part of a group surrounding or within one or more stationary vehicles at any time where such activity causes noise, exhaust fumes, harassment, alarm, or distress
• Causing or permitting excessive amplified music or vehicular noise, and/or excessive emissions of exhaust fumes where such activity causes harassment, alarm, or distress

Failure without reasonable excuse to comply with the prohibitions or requirements imposed by the PSPO would qualify as a summary offence under Section 67 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. A person guilty of an offence under Section 67 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 3 on the standard scale.

Cllr Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, said: “Where PSPOs have been enforced elsewhere in the Borough, they have been a great success in curbing frequent and excessive anti-social behaviour that can blight the lives of local residents and businesses.

“If adopted, this PSPO will send a clear message that car cruising will not be tolerated and help reassure residents and businesses that unreasonable behaviour is being addressed.

“I would therefore invite the public to visit Colchester Borough Council’s website and submit their views before the 5 September deadline.”

Find out more about the proposed PSPO at www.colchester.gov.uk/vehicular-nuisance-pspo-2022/