As you may know, there is currently a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in force across the Horsham District.  This came into effect on 1 April 2018 with the aim of addressing anti-social behaviour and improving public spaces. Each PSPO lasts for three years and the current one expires on 31 March 2021.

Horsham District Council would like to renew the PSPO for a further three years (1 April 2021 – 31 March 2024) and also include new prohibitions.

What is in the current PSPO?

The Horsham District PSPO currently prohibits the following activities:

• Nuisance behaviour relating to alcohol
• Anti-social use of vehicles
• Not picking up dog fouling
• Lack of control of dogs
• Unauthorised access and nuisance behaviour – Horsham town only
• Racing of horse drawn vehicles on any dual carriageway, including the A24 and A264

Suggested additional prohibitions to be included:

District wide
No intoxication or possession of psychoactive substances

It is proposed to add a prohibition to the Order that states that no person shall drink, inhale, inject, or otherwise use or be in possession of any intoxicating substances, or “legal highs”, or drug paraphernalia including nitrous oxide canisters.

Horsham Town Only

No unlicensed busking

Licensed buskers are required to meet certain conditions and to make available their badge for inspection by Horsham District Council Neighbourhood Wardens, Police, Environmental Health or Licencing officers. If added to the PSPO, failure to either produce their badge or to stick to the conditions would lead to a fixed penalty notice.

No selling of periodicals which include a prize competition dependent on skill

We have received complaints from the public about companies who purport to being charitable in status when in fact they are for profit, employing aggressive sales tactics and misleading information. Despite challenge, these companies continue to operate considering that they do not require a traders licence as they are running a prize competition based on skill. The tickets are categorised as ‘periodicals’ as the competition is drawn once a year. It is proposed to implement a prohibition to deal with this problem and to tackle the aggressive selling techniques, whilst not affecting legitimate selling such as the Big Issue.

No anti-social behaviour or nuisance behaviour in car parks and stairwells

There have been numerous complaints of anti-social behaviour within the car parks in the town centre, caused by young people consuming alcohol or drugs, causing damage and playing loud music. These activities have given rise to complaints to both the Council and the Police from residents and are causing nuisance, annoyance and distress to other members of the public wishing to use these public spaces.

No drinking of alcohol in The Causeway and Gardens of Remembrance

The Council and Police have received numerous complaints concerning individuals gathering on benches in the Causeway and the Gardens of Remembrance in Horsham town. Those gathering often do so to drink alcohol together and then to on to engage in anti-social behaviour such as public urination, using threatening and abusive language, and being drunk and disorderly. The behaviour from such individuals generally improves upon the arrival of Police or Council staff making it difficult to effectively respond to the issue. It is therefore proposed that the drinking of alcohol within the restricted areas of The Causeway and Gardens of Remembrance is prohibited.

Consultation

Horsham District Council would like your views on the new prohibitions and whether we should extend the PSPO for a further three years. An online consultation is now live on the Council’s website now: www.horsham.gov.uk/pspoconsultation until 31 January 2021.

The following guidance applies.

Households across Horsham will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.

“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations. For more information, visit census.gov.uk

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