South Lakes bylaw bid to halt urinating in public
Last updated at 15:20, Monday, 02 April 2012
POLICE in South Lakeland look set to gain new powers to stop people urinating in public.
A public consultation will take place in a bid to launch a new byelaw to criminalise the anti-social act in urban parts of the district.
If given the green light, police would be able to fine those caught in the act in a number of towns and villages across South Lakeland.
There is no such byelaw in South Lakeland making it difficult for police officers to deal with the issue effectively.
South Lakeland District Councillor Clare Feeney-Johnson said the introduction of the byelaw was the sensible way forward.
Speaking at a meeting of the authority’s full council on Thursday she said: “The police receive a lot of complaints about this – it’s an issue particularly in Kendal and Ulverston.
“These are people who urinate in alleyways and sites around our town centres at night as they travel from public house to public house.
“The police just can’t stress enough how important it is to have this byelaw in place.”
The byelaw, if adopted, would cover Ulverston, Grange, Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Hawkshead, Grasmere, Coniston and Flookburgh.
Cllr Feeney-Johnson told the meeting: “We need to send a message out that this is unacceptable behaviour and it will not be tolerated in South Lakeland. It’s about time we put this byelaw in place to allow the police to do a good job.”
SLDC will now begin a three-month consultation process with town and parish councils, local area partnerships and other organisations across the area.
The byelaw could be implemented following this.
Ulverston councillor and former police officer Norman Bishop-Rowe said he welcomed the move.
He told the full council: “I quite sympathise with my former fellow colleagues.
“As a uniformed officer I saw many of these miscreants out there and in front of the local judge.”
First published at 13:07, Monday, 02 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Let's stage a public pee in - Where? Some large tree in the town?
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Whilst visiting the playground on the promenade at Grange Over Sands with my young family I noticed that the toilets next to the playground were closed. For many years we have visited this playground and needed to use the public conveniences which were always working and clean for visitors to use. There was a sign stating, due to vandalism ,these toilets had to be closed. I have never seen them vandalised nor seen a problem with youths drinking in that area during our visits. I noticed that several members of the public were urinating etc in the bushes on the prom due to desperation. I suppose when the local council get complaints about faeces/toilet paper etc on the prom or embedded in the much cherished flora only then will the toilets be reopened? Shame, as I thought Grange wanted and needed visitors.
Posted by misspiggy on 12 April 2012 at 18:15