A CONSULTATION on new anti-social behaviour measures at Ilkley Riverside has begun.

Bradford Council is considering implementing a ‘Public Space Protection Order’ at Ilkley Riverside to help reduce the anti-social behaviour by a minority of visitors. Progress will depend on the outcome of a consultation with local residents, businesses and visitors.

A Public Space Protection Order is one of the tools available under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and aims to restrict offensive behaviours at a specified locality. The Order would aim to stem the behavioural problems which have escalated in recent years and improve things over a period of time.

If implemented the order will come into operation on June 1, 2021 and would be in effect for three years.

It would relate the riverside area of Ilkley and prohibit people from:

a) Behaving in a way, including by congregating in a group, that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to an individual or concern or the safety of another person;

b) Threatening, abusing or intimidating other people;

c) Using foul or abusive language;

d) Drunken behaviour and the refusal to stop drinking alcohol or hand over any containers (sealed or unsealed) which are believed to contain alcohol, when required, to do so by an authorised officer in order to prevent public nuisance or disorder;

e) Being under the influence of controlled drugs or other psychoactive substances;

f) Causing an obstruction or jumping from the footbridge over the River Wharfe connecting Ilkley with Denton Road and Middleton Woods;

g) Lighting or being in control of a fire or barbecue;

h) Littering - not to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and then leave, litter in any place;

i) Camping overnight in tents, caravans or camper vans. No sleeping out of doors over night.

Anyone found to be in breach of the order would be liable to be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice or on summary conviction to a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.

The consultation will run until Monday, April 26th and the survey on the proposed order can be found at: https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?ID=307