Community Council ask for ‘beefed up’ town Public Space Protection Order rather than scrapping it

Next month’s Executive Board is set to debate an agenda item on the town’s Public Space Protection Orders, with one community opposing any attempt to scrap it.

The forward work programme has the debate down as “To share the evaluation of the Rhosddu Park and Cemetery and Wrexham Town Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which were introduced in 2016 for three years and to agree a partnership approach to the ongoing management of anti-social behavior (ASB) in the Wrexham town centre area.”

The Clerk of Rhosddu Community Council has written to the Executive Board, noting their body ‘has not been consulted on such an important issue’, noting: “I understand that the removal of the PSPO is opposed by all town centre councillors as well as the Town Centre Management Team who have to deal on a daily basis with the problems they encounter.”

The Clerk adds, “A beefed-up PSPO should be seen as a complementary tool to tackle ASB alongside a number of other interventions. We recognise that a PSPO alone is not an answer to the problem but in some cases will assist in ensuring the council’s officers can help individuals access the right services.

“We therefore call on the Executive Board to approve the renewal of the town centre PSPO and for its boundaries to be extended to cover the now defunct Rhosddu PSPO. We call on the council and police to work together to ensure this is adequately enforced for the community’s benefit, both residents and local businesses. Both have been badly affected by the ASB of a small minority. Removing the PSPO will mean town-centre wardens will have no powers to deal with ASB and the recent removal of town centre PCSOs is also noted as having a detrimental effect on perceptions of community safety.”

Councillor Marc Jones of Grosvenor ward, which covers a large part of the town centre as well as Rhosddu said: “The original PSPO wasn’t enforced properly by the council and was widely seen as ineffective in dealing with anti-social behaviour. But that’s not a reason to scrap it.

“As the councillor who hears daily from residents and businesses trying to make a living in the town centre, I believe abandoning the PSPO sends out the wrong signals both to the small minority engaged in anti-social behaviour and the vast majority of frustrated residents.

“That’s why Rhosddu Community Council has written opposing the removal of the PSPO and indeed wants it extended to include Rhosddu Park and cemetery. The previous PSPO covering expired in March and it’s disappointing that the county borough council failed to consult with the community and its elected representatives about this decision.

“The Executive Board has a simple decision to make next month. Does it provide additional support and protection for its own staff, local residents and small businesses in tackling anti-social behaviour or does it give up the ghost?

“PSPOs in themselves are not the solution, they’re a reaction to a problem. But they can be a useful tool in dealing with specific circumstances and frontline staff need to have the options the PSPO offers to deal with specific problems.

“If any Executive Board member wants to understand my community’s frustration at this ongoing situation, I’d welcome them to visit my ward at anytime. I’m sure a number of town centre traders could also explain the impact this anti-social behaviour is having on their businesses.”

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “In anticipation of the Town Centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) coming to an end, and the ending of the associated order covering Rhosddu Cemetery, we are discussing possible appropriate replacement orders with partners and members.

“Our work in recent years shows that PSPOs are only one element of responding to the issues of anti-social behaviour raised in the town centre, and enforcement alone is not enough to deal with these matters.

“The recent work of the Gold Group – a multi-agency partnership which provides prompt, targeted and relevant support to those in need to help turn their often dysfunctional lives around – contributed to a 43 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour in Wrexham town centre.

“Working alongside police, health services and the appropriate support and rehabilitation agencies, we have made significant progress in recent years and it is vital that this positive work continues.”

The Executive Board papers are not yet public, however back in 2016 the PSPO was extended with data and outcomes given for the reasoning, so we will update with the latest figures if/when they are published.