New fines planned for Stafford street drinkers and irresponsible dog owners

Stafford and Stone town centres are set to be covered by Public Space Protection Orders if plans are approved at a Stafford Borough Council cabinet meeting on Thursday.

A number of high-profile cases involving irresponsible dog owners in Stafford have seen residents hit with fines, including a woman who was ordered to pay more than £900 after letting her dog run around Stafford's Eccleshall Road cemetery.

The section of the PSPO which covers drinking will be similar to those introduced in Wolverhampton and Walsall in an attempt to tackle problem drinkers.

Councillor Jeremy Pert, community portfolio holder for Stafford Borough Council, said the move was being put in place to help the authority keep up with Government legislation to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

He said: "From October we are looking to bring in the PSPO to make sure street drinkers and irresponsible dog owners are punished correctly.

"It is proposed that the council implement a PSPO for both Stafford and Stone Town Centres that includes provision for alcohol restriction and also requirements for the control of dogs in other locations across the borough.

"This is a move which is being looked at by authority's all over the country and will ensure that we are up to date with legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour."

The plans have gone out for consultation, with Mr Pert saying they received a 'positive' reaction from the public.

He said: "A common theme in the consultation related to more bins being provided for dog fouling and more enforcement officers to enforce this.

"Overall, there has been a positive public response to the PSPO proposal."

Under the plans, people who let their dogs off the lead or would be hit a fixed penalty of up to £100 or potentially face prosecution where they would face a maximum of £1,000 fine.

People who are in possession of any open container holding alcohol within Stafford and Stone town centres would also be hit with a fine.