Cycling and fouling orders to continue

Public spaces protection measures extended

Royal Borough cabinet members have agreed to carry on with measures promoting responsible dog control in public and encouraging safer cycling in town centres.

It was also agreed that the council would consult with the public on a suggestion put forward by cycling groups in the area.

The decision to continue with measures follows on from a public consultation and means that two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), first introduced in April 2021, have been extended for another three years, prior to their expiration next month.

The first PSPO gives community wardens and the police the power to enforce current no-cycling rules by asking cyclists to stop and dismount in the busy pedestrianised areas of Maidenhead High Street and Peascod Street in Windsor.

If this is not complied with, officers have the option of issuing a £100 fixed penalty notice.

After considering the feedback from the consultation, cabinet members have asked officers to carry out a followup consultation on a suggestion put forward by several cycling groups in the area to amend this PSPO so it operates from 10am to 5pm.

This aligns with the restrictions put on motor vehicles in these locations.

The second PSPOs states that anyone caught dogfouling in a public place anywhere in the Royal Borough will continue to risk being given a £100 fixed penalty notice.

The order also gives community wardens or police the power to ask a dog owner to put their pet on a lead if it is loose and causing alarm, distress or harassment in a public place.

The consultation took place over a four-week period and participants were asked if they agree with continuing each of the PSPOs.

The majority of the 297 respondents agreed they 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.”