Two public space protection orders covering parts of Yeovil town centre have expired without being renewed, leaving Somerset Council to review whether further action is needed amid continuing concerns about begging, street drinking and anti-social behaviour.
The council is asking residents, businesses and visitors to report incidents. It says the information will help build a clearer picture of what is happening in the town centre and inform any decision about whether further action is appropriate.
Residents and businesses have told authorities that Yeovil feels less welcoming since the orders lapsed. The issue was raised at a Somerset Council executive committee meeting on 5 August by Councillor Tom Power, who represents Wincanton and Bruton.
What the Yeovil town centre orders covered
The orders were introduced by South Somerset District Council in October 2019. They gave police and local authorities additional powers to intervene in specified circumstances, including public drinking, begging and related anti-social behaviour.
One order covered approaches to people for begging in parts of Clarence Street, High Street and Middle Street. The second dealt with public alcohol consumption and associated anti-social conduct.
The alcohol-related order was expanded in October 2021. Its area then stretched from Yeovil Hospital to Brunswick Street and from the A30 Queensway to Wyndham Hill.
While the orders were in force, anyone breaching them could receive a £100 penalty. Both orders were extended in October 2022 and transferred to Somerset Council when the new unitary authority was formed in April 2023. They have since expired.
Concerns over Yeovil’s town centre atmosphere
Feedback from constituents, business owners and residents suggested that the atmosphere in Yeovil town centre had declined since the orders ended. Yeovil is an important shopping and services destination for people travelling from Wincanton, Bruton and surrounding villages.
Councillor Power said some visitors were increasingly reporting that Yeovil felt less welcoming when they came into the town. He also said enforcement powers alone would not resolve every issue, and that councils and police need effective tools to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour while protecting Yeovil’s reputation as a place to shop, work and socialise.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s portfolio holder for communities, environment and climate change, confirmed that the PSPOs had not been renewed. Avon and Somerset Police had not asked for them to be reinstated.
How to report problems
Begging and street drinking can be reported to Avon and Somerset Police by calling 101 or using the force’s website. Anti-social behaviour can be reported through Somerset Council’s dedicated online reporting platform.
Somerset Council is separately planning to reinstate dog-fouling PSPOs across Somerset. Those proposals are expected to proceed in the autumn after consultation with local councils, but they are not connected to the expired Yeovil town centre orders.