Westmorland and Furness Council has confirmed the extension of the Eden area Public Spaces Protection Order with a 12 month extension the council brought into effect on the 1st May 2024.
The Eden area Public Spaces Protection Order prohibits the consumption of alcohol (licenced premises excluded) or the possession of an open container of alcohol in Restricted Areas. In Penrith the entire parish of Penrith is covered along with areas of Alston, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and Shap prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public areas.
With the current PSPO set to expire on the 1st of May the Council proposed an extension for 12 months to enable the continuation of the PSPO made by Eden Council in 2021 that was due to expire on 01 May 2024. Westmorland and Furness Council ran a public consultation that ended on the 26th April.
The PSPO has created issues for events and local businesses in previous years including forcing one local pub to close its doors during the 2023 May Day Carnival due to what the landlord claimed were “Unprecedented local authority restrictions”.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness, said "The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Eden expired on 1 May 2024 and is being extended until a new Order under Westmorland and Furness Council is enacted. The Council will be carrying out a wider consultation in the coming months to review all PSPOs under Westmorland and Furness Council. Once agreed and in place, these will supersede all previous orders.”
"Events within a public place, which have an authorised premises license or a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), will be excluded from the PSPO powers during the time for which the license is approved. Notices are historically received regarding stalls at events within the town and one was received for this year's Mayday event. The Council worked closely with event organisers to ensure understanding of the PSPO and its enforcement.”
"A PSPO is one of a number of options available to ensure activities carried out in public places do not have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. The PSPO does not make it illegal to drink alcohol in a public place but the Police or any authorised persons for example, have powers should there be issues associated with anti-social behaviour."
Westmorland and Furness Council have been asked to clarify its position on the PSPO following its statement that “The PSPO does not make it illegal to drink alcohol in a public place” with the council’s renewed order wording specifically stating “The effect of this Order is to prohibit the consumption of alcohol (licenced premises excluded) or the possession of an open container of alcohol in Restricted Areas." and council signage displayed around Penrith notifying people the consumption of alcohol in public spaces is prohibited.
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