A scheme to reduce anti social behaviour and general nuisance in the 'Old' Park Village area of the city is having a positive impact.

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City of Wolverhampton Council issued a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), with the backing of West Midlands Police and local residents, meaning offenders can be hit with on the spot £80 fines.

The Fixed Penalty Notices came into effect at the start of September and are proving to be an effective deterrent, with none handed out to date.

Councillor Sandra Samuels, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Well Being, said: "Before we took this action the problems had reached significant proportions in the 'Old' Park Village area and were proving detrimental to the local community's quality of life.

"Witnesses were too scared to attend court or even name perpetrators of anti social behaviour.

"The PSPO, alongside regular days of action with Wolverhampton Anti social Behaviour Team, West Midlands Police, Environmental Health and the council's Private Sector Housing team, as well as significant publicity, is proving effective. The agencies plan to build on this work with the aim of encouraging more residents to come forward.

"We have received positive feedback from the local community."

The area targeted is the northern section of Cannock Road between the junctions of Nine Elms Lane and Prosser Street, Nine Elms Lane, Prosser Street, Crowther Street, Newport Street, Stratton Street and Colaton Close, Quatford Gardens, Silverdale Drive, Swinford Road and Fowler's Park.

Fixed Penalty Notices can be administered to anyone breaching the terms of the order, which prohibits carrying any open container of alcohol, playing any ball games in the street, creating excessive or unreasonable noise levels, littering or fly tipping, urinating in the street and allowing dog fouling, in any public area within the PSPO zone.

Prior to the implementation of the PSPO the area was leafleted with a 'Good Neighbour Pack' - an easy guide available in English and a number of community languages as well as pictorial format - outlining what is and what is not acceptable behaviour.

  • released: Thursday 22 October, 2015