Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting residents on the planned introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent street drinking and drug taking in a town centre exclusion zone.
On breach of the Order, police or Council enforcement officers could issue a fixed penalty fine of £100, and failure to pay this could result in prosecution and a court fine of up to £1,000.
The Council is seeking public views to gauge the impact intoxicating substance related anti-social behaviour is having on the public in the proposed exclusion zone.
The consultation is running until 10 March 2022, with the PSPO, if approved, likely to come into force by next summer.
“Public Spaces Protection Orders are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a particular area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life,” said Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection Cllr Geraint Thomas.
“The main benefits are to reduce street drinking and drug taking that is having a negative impact on communities and the environment, while reducing harmful consumption of alcohol and drugs and protecting vulnerable people.”
