Two public space protection orders covering parts of Yeovil town centre have expired without being renewed, amid concerns from residents and businesses about begging, street drinking and antisocial behaviour.
Somerset Council is reviewing the situation and has asked residents, businesses and visitors to report incidents. The information will be used to build a clearer picture of what is happening in the town centre and help authorities decide whether further action is appropriate.
People have told authorities that Yeovil town centre 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 PSPOs 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 approaches to people for begging in parts of Clarence Street, High Street and Middle Street. The second dealt with public alcohol consumption and associated antisocial conduct. Its coverage was expanded in October 2021 to stretch 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 about the town centre
Councillor Power said feedback from constituents, business owners and residents suggested 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.
He 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 need 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 incidents in Yeovil
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 town centre orders.