Council to restrict tents, BBQs and taxi parking

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is set to ban taxi parking, open flame barbecues and tents in part of Surrey.

At a Spelthorne Council committee meeting on Thursday warnings, fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000 and potential prosecution for offenders were agreed as part of the PSPO.

The enforcement aims to crackdown on littering, property damage, defecation and urination on public land in communities close to Heathrow Airport.

Under the PSPO taxi drivers and private vehicles will be excluded from parking in areas of Stanwell and Stanwell Moor.

Concerns were raised about the potential affects of a ban on tents on public land on homeless people, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council said enforcement action will not be taken against rough sleepers in tents unless all offers of assistance have been refused, and reports of anti-social behaviour are received.

Fires, barbecues and cooking equipment with an open flame will also be banned in public spaces to prevent fires growing out of control, burning grass and damaging picnic benches.

The PSPO will come into force in 2024 and will last for at least three years.

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