Southport and Sefton Coastal and Visitor Area PSPO ‘signed and sealed’ for three years

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Following the approval of Full Council on Thursday 14 July 2022, a Coastal and Visitor Area Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is officially in place at locations across Sefton.

The order is to help ensure the Borough’s coastline and town centres can be enjoyed by everyone. Activities covered by the new PSPO include littering and pollution, fires and BBQs, dog fouling, balloon or lantern releases, and anti-social behaviour. Failure to comply can result in a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice.

The order will be in place for three years, until summer 2025.

Feedback from local communities, visitors and partner agencies, gained through a public consultation, was used to shape the Order, which provides enforcement powers to protect the public from anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said:
“Firstly, we fully appreciate why so many people are so keen to visit our beautiful Borough and we want everyone to enjoy their time here.

“The vast majority of visitors and residents do just that and treat our wonderful coastline with respect and our residents with consideration, and the introduction of this Order, will have very little or no impact on them.

“However, it will help to make clear what is and what isn’t acceptable and will give our teams, along with those of our partners, greater powers to deal with that very small minority who behave inappropriately and cause distress and disturbance to local residents and businesses, or damage to our precious natural coast and infrastructure.”

Tracie Trubshaw, Chief Inspector at Merseyside Police said:
“During the summer months we know that many people will want to visit our fantastic beaches and beauty spots in Sefton and we know the overwhelming majority will do so responsibly.

“Introducing the Public Space Protection Order will help visitors and residents enjoy our coastline safely, throughout the summer and beyond, by making clear what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable.

“Our officers will be working with our partners at Sefton Council to make sure that people can have a good time at our beaches and beauty spots, free of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

“Rest assured acting in an anti-social manner should expect to be dealt with robustly and we will support our partners in their work. If you have any concerns, please speak to our officers out on patrol, or call 101 so that we can take action and keep our communities safe.”

Sefton Council is encouraging all those who visit Sefton, as well as people who live, work in the Borough to familiarise themselves with the Order. They can do this by heading to www.sefton.gov.uk/coastalpspo where they will find the full list of restrictions and the locations that fall within the order.

Coastal areas means the beach and the land next to the beach which is open to the public, including land owned by other partners such as the National Trust, Natural England, RSPB and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. This includes: 

  • sand dunes and grassed areas 
  • woodlands and marshes
  • ponds and lakes
  • promenades
  • car parks
  • play areas
  • buildings like toilets and shelters  

 Town centres included in the order are:  

  • Southport (area includes Kings Gardens, Lord Street, Eastbank Street and Promenade)
  • Formby (area includes Formby Village Centre, Andrew's Lane, Formby Bridge, Kings Road, Duke Street Park)
  • Crosby & Waterloo (area includes Crosby Town centre, Moorside Park, Coronation and Alexandra Parks, Victoria Park, St. Johns Road, South Road, Waterloo/Seafront gardens)
  • Bootle (area within the boundary of parts of Merton Road, Litherland Road, Washington Road and Marsh Lane)

Some of the restrictions include:

  • Pollution: Leaving litter, dog fouling, urinating/defecating in public, or noise pollution
  • Vehicle related antisocial behaviour; either within defined car parks or taking motor vehicles outside of defined parking areas.
  • Drinking alcohol in a public space after being told not to by an Authorised Officer to prevent anti-social behaviour (this is not a total ban)
  • Lighting any fire or BBQ
  • Taking a dog into a dog exclusion zone, or allowing its behaviour to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to another person
  • Setting off fireworks, balloon or lantern releases

Signage will be installed across the Borough to make sure people are aware of their responsibilities while they enjoy their time in Sefton.