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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Anti-social behaviour down after town centre booze crackdown
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour has dropped by more than 65 per cent since powers were introduced in Macclesfield town centre to crackdown on booze-fuelled disorder, a councillor said. Ward councillor Ashley Farrall (non-grouped) was speaking at today's (Thursday) meeting of the environment and communities committee where he asked members to back recommendations to extend the public spaces protection order (PSPO) for another three years. The order enables PCSOs and authorised council officers to ask people to hand over alcohol if they are drinking in the town centre or have it in their possession and are likely to cause anti-social behaviour. Cllr Ashley Farrall (Image: Cheshire East Council) Cllr Farrall told the meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall: 'The current PSPO has been a valuable and effective tool since its implementation in July 2022… 'At the time, we were responding to a very real need. 'Residents and businesses were constantly reporting issues of alcohol-fuelled disorder, each causing alarm or intimidation and a general decline in the public environment. 'We knew that if we were going to reclaim our town centre as a safe, welcoming space, a focused, fair intervention was needed. Since then, the PSPO has delivered results.' He said the total number of anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents had dropped by more than 65 per cent since the order had been in place, alcohol-related ASB incidents had more than halved and in the first three months of this year there had been just two alcohol-related ASB incidents recorded. 'These are not just statistics, they represent real improvements for the people who live, work and visit the town centre every day,' said the Macclesfield councillor. 'Importantly, the order has been used proportionately and sensitively. 'No fixed penalty notices have been issued under the order. 'This is a tool, not for criminalising vulnerable individuals, it's a mechanism for early, calm, preventative action that empowers our officers to step in before behaviour escalates.' He added: 'And I want to be clear on one point, this order is not and will not be used to criminalise rough sleepers, people experiencing homelessness in our town. 'The aim is to address anti-social behaviour, not to penalise people experiencing homelessness.' Cllr Liz Braithwaite (Image: Cheshire East Council) Fellow ward councillor Liz Braithwaite (Lab) said the PSPO was 'a valuable tool for police and enforcement officers to both tackle and deter the ASB associated with problem drinking'. The committee voted unanimously to extend the PSPO for three years, meaning it will expire in July 2028.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Macclesfield car park land to be sold off for new housing
Two council-owned car parks in a Cheshire town are to be reduced by almost half so housing can be built on sections of the two sites on Churchill Way and Duke Street in Macclesfield both have about 275 spaces and a recent study found there was enough capacity in the town centre for drivers to use other car type of housing proposed for the sites has not been decided and there is no indication of how much the land could be sold the outline proposals were approved at the council's economy and growth committee. Under the plans, Churchill Way would be reduced from 276 spaces to 123, and Duke Street from 275 spaces to follows a study by an external company into car parks in the town. Under the plans, Churchill Way would be reduced from 276 spaces to 123, and Duke Street from 275 spaces to follows a study by an external company into car parks in the study also recommended more signage pointing people to use the Jordangate multi-storey car park, alongside changes to the Grosvenor Centre resident, Sue Mason, said she had lived in Macclesfield for 75 years and wanted to raise her concerns."The report says that the study indicates the partial releases of both car parks should not result in significant negative impacts," she said."I emphasise those words as I'm an English teacher. 'Should not' is not the same as 'will not'. I would have liked to have seen 'will not' rather than 'should not'."Look at what the impact will be on traffic, on schools, on hospitals if we do sell off this land to build housing which this country needs." 'Eminently sensible' Labour councillor Liz Braithwaite said parking both off and on street was "always an issue in the town"."Regeneration is always welcome, however it must be appropriate, considerate and not have an impact on residents," she council's head of economic development, Dr Charles Jarvis, said permits for residents was one area being looked Conservative Chris O'Leary said he had requested the report because of an "overprovision" of parking in said the council had the option to "leverage" its assets, which was a "win-win" in terms of the area's housing targets and finances."This is an opportunity for us to actually do something that will benefit Macclesfield," he Conservative Stewart Gardiner said developing the land and raising money for the council "seems to be eminently sensible".Labour's Rob Vernon said it was "exactly the type of development" needed, because town centres had already "died"."Retail ain't coming back, town centres have changed and the economy has changed, and town centre living is coming forward," he report was approved and the council will now consider the most appropriate forms of housing for the sites. See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
