Public Spaces Protection Order Renewal 2026 - Rushden Town Centre

Overview

We are consulting on the Public Spaces Protection Order for Rushden Town Centre.

A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is a power under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, that allows a council to impose restrictions in particular areas to tackle nuisance or problem behaviour, within a defined public area.

The PSPO being in place acts as a deterrent to reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring and supports action against those individuals who behave in an unacceptable manner.

The PSPO for Rushden Town Centre was granted on 15 March 2024. A PSPO lasts for up to three years and we are required to review the PSPO before deciding whether to renew it.

The current PSPO prohibits the following:

1. Alcohol consumption - Being in the possession of any open vessel suspected of containing alcohol, having been requested by an Authorised Officer to surrender the same, unless it is being consumed on a licensed premise i.e. a pub or a restaurant.  

2. Rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour - Acting in a manner that causes harassment, alarm or distress or acting in a way that an Authorised Officer reasonably perceives to be intimidating and/or aggressive as a result of consuming alcohol.  

3. Using the public space as a toilet - Urinating or defecating other than in a facility specifically designed and intended for such use.  

4. Begging - by making any verbal, non-verbal (excluding busking) or written request from a standing, sitting down position for money, donations or goods-including the placing of hats or containers for money.  

5. Misuse of motorised or powered vehicles - Using a motorised or powered vehicle within the prohibition area causing unreasonable anti-social noise, public nuisance, or danger to others, and or refusal by a person in possession or control of a motorised or powered vehicle, to remove the vehicle from the prohibition area when requested to do so by an Authorised Officer.  

The PSPO applies to all land which is within the administrative area of North Northamptonshire Council as edged red and shaded on the Order plan appended to the PSPO which is:

1. Any highway, footway, cycleway or footpath maintainable at the public expense, any grass verge maintained by the local authority, and which is adjacent to any carriageway or footway of any highway, any road subject to a 30-mph limit or less to that part of the carriageway of a highway which forms part of the gutter. 
2. Church Green (War Memorial and Gardens) bordered by Wellingborough Road and High Street
3. The High Street   
4. Victoria Road between High Street and Rectory Road  
5. West Street  
6. Queen Street between High Street and Rectory Road  
7. George Street   
8. Coffee Tavern Lane
9. Church Street
10. John Street 
11. Eaton Walk
12. Alfred Street
13. College Street
14. Rectory Road
15. Newton Road 
16. Duck Street 
17. Wellingborough Road from Duck Street to High Street
18. John Street car park
19. Duck Street car park
20. Splash Pool car park
21. Orchard Place car park 
22. Rectory Road car park   

We are seeking your views and evidence on whether the PSPO for Rushden Town Centre should be renewed and extended for a further 3 years.

The PSPO and a map of the PSPO are available to view on the NNC website.

How to have your say

You can share your feedback on the proposed Rushden Town Centre PSPO by answering a few short questions via the survey link below. Alternatively, you can respond via email or post:

Email: SaferCommunitiesTeam@northnorthants.gov.uk

Post: Safer Communities Team, North Northamptonshire Council, 1st Floor, Deene House, New Post Office Square, Corby. Northants. NN17 1GD.

This consultation will close at 23.59 on 6 December 2026.

At the end of the survey there is an opportunity, for those responding as an individual, to share some demographic information. The purpose of asking for equality monitoring information is to check that our consultation and engagement activities have reached an audience that reflects our community and ensure everybody has an opportunity to be heard. It is voluntary and we thank you, in anticipation, for taking the time to share your details.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.