Statement of reasons
The Public Spaces Protection Order is proposed to prevent recurring environmental crimes and anti-social behaviour in and around the recently regenerated Ben Street area. This area has persistent and recurring waste mismanagement issues such as fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. Once established the proposed PSPO will enable the gating of the six thoroughfares that run from Bank Street to Ilford Street (“the restricted areas”) and restrict access to the restricted areas to local residents/ pedestrians passing through the area.
The PSPO that will enable the gating of the Restricted Areas is proposed within a neighbourhood known as the Ben Street regeneration area. The neighbourhood is located in the Openshaw and Clayton ward in East Manchester and is made up of over 200 terraced properties. This area was widely recognised as a neighbourhood in substantial decline since the 1990s. Within the area there is a mix of housing tenures with a high proportion of private rented sector properties and,prior to regeneration, contained a significant number of void properties.
Overall the condition of the stock was extremely poor and the area suffered significantly from crime / ASB / waste management and fly tipping issues. Notably, the neighbourhood has been subjected to people from outside of the area fly tipping in rear yard areas.
In 2018 the area was regenerated by the City Council. This regeneration included 62 void properties being refurbished and brought back into residential use, over 200 properties receiving a facelift and streetscape works undertaken to roads and footpaths. This included a pedestrian safety scheme for Ravensbury Street that runs parallel with the proposed alley-gating scheme.
Whilst the regeneration works have been successful and welcomed by local residents work is needed to improve waste management issues in the area and reduce crime and ASB. The PSPO and subsequent gating works would restrict access to local residents only, help deter ASB /crime and effectively underpin the regeneration investment that has taken place.
In summary over a 3 year period 157 recorded crimes and 45 ASB incidents have been recorded . The main location for incidents has been in the Ilford Street and John Heywood Street areas including, in terms of ASB incidents, rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour and off road bike incidents. The highest crime statistic is residential burglary followed by violence and public order offences.
There has been some reduction in crime rates over this period but certain crimes have increased in the categories of violence and criminal damage. In 2018 there was a 55% increase in ASB incidents which is a key issue affecting resident well-being and safety perceptions in the area. The feedback from two separate consultation exercises undertaken with local residents and property owners has reinforced the validity of the crime and ASB data.
Manchester City Council has recorded 420 service requests to remove fly tipping in the area over a 3 year period and 50% (211 incidents) of these requests related specifically to the site (within 10 metres or less) of the footpath that the PSPO / alley-gating is now being sought. Fly tipping is the second largest service request issue in the neighbourhood and represents over 30% of all service requests.
The highest service request issue in the area also relates to waste management in terms of matters concerning waste bins (i.e.contaminated bin removal, new bin requests, stolen bins) at over 35%. Resident feedback from the two consultations in September 2018 and June 2019 raised concerns about people dumping rubbish and fly-tipping. This has a negative effect on resident perceptions of their neighbourhood and of their community.
It is envisaged that the restrictions by reducing access would reduce anti-social behaviour, levels of crime and improve environmental management of waste and restrict activities such as fly tipping. Before the expiration of this three year period the impact of the PSPO will be reviewed by the neighbourhood team, as is the case for all PSPOs. Residents from the wider residential area will have no access at all on this gated thoroughfare whilst this PSPO is in effect. However there is an alternative pedestrian route on Ravensbury Street that runs parallel that all residents can use. Ravensbury Street is a reasonable / close alternative and is a key route for school children (Ravensbury Street Primary School). Ravensbury Street has also recently been improved with new surfacing, widened footpaths, bollards and traffic restrictions to slow traffic and reduce on street parking opportunities making the street much safer for pedestrian use.
On behalf of Manchester City Council as Local Highway Authority, Citywide Highways support this proposal.
The levels of crime, anti-social behaviour and poor waste management practices such as fly tipping that are taking place on a regular basis around this thoroughfare have a detrimental impact on local residents who live in the immediate area and affects their quality of life. These activities are persistent and have continued over a long period of time and well before the regeneration of the area and without some additional forms of intervention it is maintained that these behaviours will continue.
Whilst policing and waste management awareness campaigns will continue to respond to issues in the area, the additional proactive introduction of gating by way of the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order will physically restrict access for a three year period (subject to extension).