Still chance to have your say on plan to fight antisocial behaviour

Sunderland residents have been given extra time to have their say on the city’s war on antisocial behaviour.

The city council has given people a chance to express their views on plans to strengthen enforcement powers on a range of antisocial behaviour issues across Wearside. The authority is looking to bolster powers and asking for feedback on additional powers including begging, busking, bin raking and feeding birds.

Measures proposed in the consultation include a booze ban across the city with residents being asked if they would support an order making it an offence to consume any intoxicating substances in any outdoor open public space.

The consultation also includes proposed bans on feeding birds in any open public space, spitting in public and an order banning people from urinating or defecating in any place that is not a toilet.

If approved £75 fixedpenalty notices could be handed out to anyone in breach of a Public Space Protection Order by council staff.

The council first introduced its Public Spaces Protection Order three years ago with powers around alcohol control, dog control, the use of legal highs in public places and antisocial behaviour linked to street trading.

Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller said: "What came across loud and clear in our Let's Talk consultation is that the environment is a top priority for our residents and that they want to live in a clean green city.

"So this is about focusing on the concerns that we know the impact on the quality of life of our residents and getting their views on what they think we should be doing to toughen up our current enforcement powers."

“We really want residents to tell us if they're in favour of the current measures and whether they would like to see further action to control issues such as dogs on beaches and dog fouling, spitting in public spaces and using motorbikes and quad bikes on footpaths and bridleways.”

An online consultation on the city’s Public Spaces Protection Order has been extended to Monday, February 15.

Anyone wishing to have their say on the plans can do so by visiting the council’s website at www.sunderland. gov.uk/consultation