NSC Public Space Protection Order Consultation 2026

NSC is consulting on exisitng and proposed Public Space Protection Orders - this includes public buildings,e.g. Town Halls, Libraries, Community Centres, etc.

NSC Public Space Orders Information sheet on PSPOs and Public Space Orders table 09th March 

North Somerset Council states that

"it has rules in place to help keep public spaces safe, clean and enjoyable for everyone. These rules are called Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).

We are reviewing these rules to understand:

• whether they are still needed
• whether they are working
• whether they remain fair and appropriate

Your views will help us decide whether to keep the current rules, change them, strengthen them, or remove them.

What do we mean by public spaces?

Public spaces are places that the public can normally enter or use, such as:

• Streets and pavements
• Parks and open spaces
• Beaches and seafront areas
• Town centres or shopping areas
• Children’s play areas
• Council-managed car parks
• Public toilets
• This does not include private homes, land not accessible by the general public or gardens.

How the rules work:

PSPOs set clear rules to help reduce persistent anti‑social behaviour in public places. Different rules apply in different ways:

Some rules apply across all public spaces in North Somerset. Some rules apply only in certain types of places, such as parks, town centres, car parks or play areas.

Some rules apply only in specific locations where particular problems have been identified. This consultation gives you the opportunity to comment on all of these different types of rules.

You can read the Information Sheet for a fuller explanation of:

• what PSPOs are and how they work
• what they can and cannot do
• how enforcement works in practice
• why issues may still occur even when a PSPO is in place
• how PSPOs affect different groups
• what happens if someone receives a Fixed Penalty Notice

The information sheet is there to help you understand the context, so you can respond confidently and know what to expect from the rules.

How to take part

You can share your views by completing the survey. It should take around 10 - 15 minutes, and your responses will be anonymous.

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Also see:

• Other consultations