Town centre safety and neighbourhood protection were thrust into focus at Burnley Borough Council after Councillor Don Whitaker successfully secured council approval for a motion calling to strengthen and expand the town’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
The motion, brought forward by Cllr Whitaker to address anti-social behaviour in Burnley town centre and surrounding residential areas, passed despite opposition and abstentions from several political figures.
Following the vote, the implementation of the strengthened PSPO measures now rests with the Council’s Executive Committee. Cllr Whitaker has expressed concern that executive officers could stall implementation through extended consultation periods, drawing comparisons to recent delays surrounding the borough-wide expansion of Article 4 directions on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
Commenting on the vote, Councillor Don Whitaker said:
“Anti-social behaviour in our town centre and local neighbourhoods damages our community and harms local businesses. I brought this motion forward to ensure our police and enforcement officers have the real powers needed to keep our streets safe and welcoming.
“While I am pleased the motion passed Full Council, the work is far from over. Local residents deserve to know exactly who stood up for safer streets and who voted against or sat on their hands. Those who failed to back this motion have shown a complete lack of concern for protecting our communities.
“The Executive must now act without delay. We cannot afford to see this vital safety measure kicked into the long grass with endless consultations while retrospective planning permissions continue to undermine our residential areas. The people of Burnley want action, and I will be holding the Executive accountable every step of the way.”
The PSPO motion now await formal review and sign-off by the Executive Committee before enforcement expansion can proceed.