North Somerset Children’s Play Area Public Space Protection Order
Where might it apply?
All children’s play areas in North Somerset
Who might it apply to?
Everyone, unless specific exemptions apply within the order.
What might be included?
The council is proposing to include 2 requirements within the new Children’s Play Area Draft PSPO.
1. A “no dogs” requirement
This requirement is not a new one, it is currently a dog control order that has been in force in North
Somerset since 2007, making it an offence to allow a dog into a children’s play area.
2. A “no smoking” requirement
It seems appropriate that we make it an offence to smoke in children’s play area, considering the
dangers that smoking poses particularly to children.
What happens when someone fails to comply with the PSPO
A person will commit an offence if, without reasonable excuse, they do something which is
prohibited by the PSPO or fails to comply with the requirement of a PSPO.
The maximum penalty for breaching a PSPO is a fine of £1,000.
An authorised officer may however issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to anyone he or she has reason
to believe has breached the PSPO. The FPN will give the person 14 days to pay the fine. Payment of
the FPN would discharge any liability to conviction for the offence.
The FPN can specify two amounts, a lower one if paid within 10 days and a maximum higher amount
if paid after 10 days.
North Somerset proposes to set the lower amount at £50 and the higher amount at £75.
See more information regarding our FPN procedure.