Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultations

Consultation on renewal and variation of the Public Spaces Protection (Cheltenham) Order 2023

The Public Spaces Protection (Cheltenham) Order 2023 expires in November 2026. Cheltenham Borough Council (“the authority”) is therefore consulting on proposals to renew the Public Spaces Protection Order (“PSPO”) for a further three years.

At the same time, the authority is also consulting on the inclusion of a number of additional measures to be included in the renewed PSPO.

Existing measures

The following measures are included in 2023 PSPO and the authority is proposing to retain these:

No person shall refuse to stop drinking alcohol, or refuse to hand over any containers (sealed or unsealed) which are believed to contain alcohol, when required to do so by a constable or an authorised person in order to prevent public nuisance or disorder.
Various dog control measures and requirements as outlined in the existing Public Spaces Protection (Cheltenham) Order 2023.

Proposed additional measures

Public urination and defecation

“A person commits an offence if at any time they urinate and/or defecate without reasonable excuse for doing so on or within Land to which this Order applies*.”

*In this case, the entire borough.

Loitering and aggressive begging

It is prohibited for a person to loiter or aggressively beg in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause harassment, alarm distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person anywhere in the borough of Cheltenham.
If an Authorised Person reasonably suspects that a person has been loitering or aggressively begging within the Restricted Area, an Authorised Person may require that person to leave the area.

Illegal encampments and tents

“No person shall camp or sleep overnight, with or without a tent, or use a vehicle, caravan or any other structure for such purpose anywhere in the borough of Cheltenham without the express prior consent of the Council.”

Supporting data and evidence

Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the evidence threshold for PSPO requires the local council to have reasonable grounds that three statutory conditions are met:

Detrimental impact: Activities carried out in a public place have had, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.
Persistence: The behaviour is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature.
Reasonableness: The effect of the behaviour is of a nature that makes the restrictions or requirements reasonable.

To enact or uphold these restrictions, the local authority must demonstrate that the Order is a necessary and proportionate response to the identified anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The authority has published the supporting evidence and data supporting this consultation.

About the consultation

The consultation will be open from Monday 7 September 2026 for six weeks (to 19 October 2026).

Responses can be submitted through the online form.

Please read the authority’s consultation privacy statement to understand how we may use your data.

If you have any questions, you can contact [email protected].