Two public space protection orders covering parts of Yeovil town centre have expired without being renewed, amid growing concerns about begging, street drinking and antisocial behaviour.
Residents and businesses have told authorities that the town centre feels less welcoming since the orders lapsed. Somerset Council says it is reviewing the situation and wants residents, businesses and visitors to report incidents while it considers what action may be appropriate.
What the Yeovil PSPOs 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 antisocial behaviour.
One order covered approaching people to beg in parts of Clarence Street, High Street and Middle Street. The second dealt with public alcohol consumption and associated antisocial conduct.
That order was expanded in October 2021. Its area stretched from Yeovil Hospital to Brunswick Street and from the A30 Queensway to Wyndham Hill. Anyone breaching the orders could previously 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 raised at council meeting
The issue was raised at a Somerset Council executive committee meeting on 5 August by Councillor Tom Power, who represents Wincanton and Bruton.
He said 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, arguing that councils and police needed effective tools to tackle persistent antisocial 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. She said Avon and Somerset Police had not asked for them to be reinstated.
How to report concerns
The council will keep the situation under review and is asking people to report begging, street drinking, antisocial behaviour and other incidents. Reports will help authorities build a clearer picture of the scale and nature of the problems and assess what response may be needed.
- Begging and street drinking can be reported to Avon and Somerset Police by calling 101 or using the force’s website.
- Antisocial 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 orders.