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Created: 08 November 2023

A council crusade against troublemakers gathering to drink alcohol on benches and in other parts of Erewash’s town centres is being beefed up – along with a crackdown on irresponsible dog owners.

The move follows the implementation of Public Spaces Protection Orders, which were brought in by Erewash council three years ago under new powers granted to local authorities. The council is to expand them to cover more of the towns after the measures came up for renewal.

Breaching a PSPO can lead to fines. In ILKESTON, the area covered will be extended beyond Station Road to Rutland Road and Millership Way – taking in a zone covering the big Tesco and Wash Meadows.
In LONG EATON, key areas of Petersham will be covered plus parts of the town towards the town hall and the centre.

More than nine in ten residents in a council survey said drinking alcohol in streets and other public spaces fuelled anti-social behaviour and led to littering.

Many wanted the existing PSPOs expanded to the other “hotspots”. Police joined Erewash MP Maggie Throup in backing the renewed blitz, which was given the green light at a meeting of the council’s executive.
A borough-wide PSPO covering dogs will also be retained. It aims to bar them from children’s play areas and requires pets to be kept on leads in cemeteries. Owners can be instructed by authorised officers to not let pets run free – and those who do not clear up dog mess face fixed penalties.

A council report said neighbourhood wardens will follow up reports of dog fouling. The dossier says this “continues to be a problem within the borough, with it being notably worse over the winter months”.
A massive 99 per cent of residents in a council survey backed action against those who do not clear up after their dogs. Almost three in ten of the respondents were dog owners themselves.
Many residents expressed frustration with people who bag dog poo but then leave it hanging in bushes.

Erewash’s Deputy Leader Councillor Becca Everett, who is Lead Member for Community Engagement, said:

“The order does not and will not affect responsible dog owners, but sets out to provide officers with additional powers to deal with the effects of anti-social dog ownership. And as far as anti-social drinking in public spaces is concerned – it is something the council is determined to stamp out.”

See maps showing where the PSPOs apply.