Merton Council is preparing to significantly expand its Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), with new proposals that could see fines of up to £500 for engine idling, public use of nitrous oxide gas, and e-scooter use in parks. The measures, which will be subject to a six-week public consultation starting September 21, aim to address behaviours affecting residents' quality of life across the borough.
Expansion of PSPOs Beyond Alcohol Restrictions
The previous borough-wide PSPO, introduced in 2023 to restrict street drinking, expired in July 2026. This left a gap in enforcement, as the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously highlighted. The new proposals go further, targeting a range of activities including public alcohol consumption, which remains a key concern.
Councillor and magistrate Edith Macauley MBE told the Sustainable Communities Overview Panel on September 9: “It is unbelievable the amount of alcohol consumption carried out in most of the three boroughs”, referring to Richmond, Merton, and Wandsworth. This acknowledgment underscores the need for renewed and expanded orders.
New Bans on E-Scooters and Engine Idling
The proposals include a ban on unauthorised electronic and motor vehicles, including e-scooters, in the borough's green spaces. Council officers reported that illegal riding causes danger, damage, and “severe disruption” to park visitors, though safeguards will protect mobility aid users and emergency services.
Environmental protection is also a focus, with a proposed borough-wide order to curb stationary engine idling. Persistent idling contributes to local exhaust fumes, air pollution, and noise, according to the council. Additionally, a standalone order would prohibit vehicles from stopping or waiting on school keep-clear zig-zag markings, but only at verified locations with proven safety hazards.
Enforcement and Financial Penalties
The current fixed penalty notice (FPN) cost is £100, but national legislation in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 could raise the maximum to £500 later this year. Officers said the council can consider this increase from late October, but stressed: “It is important to note that for us these PSPOs are not about generating income.”
Enforcement would primarily fall to the council's Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens, with four additional wardens added this financial year. However, Kingdom enforcement officers, contracted to the council, will not have powers to enforce the new PSPOs. The council also plans to introduce fines for public urination, aggressive begging, drug-related nuisance (including nitrous oxide use), persistent amplified sound, and unauthorised open fires or barbecues in parks.
Council officers emphasised that safeguards will prevent penalties for people experiencing homelessness or engaging in public assembly. Lib Dem opposition leader Anthony Fairclough, representing Wimbledon Town and Dundonald, praised the proposals, noting: “My town centre residents get blasted with early morning preaching, which is no good for them.”
Consultation and Decision Timeline
The statutory six-week consultation begins September 21, seeking views from residents, businesses, headteachers, and community organisations. Face-to-face sessions will be held in Morden, Mitcham, and Wimbledon town centres during the autumn. Cabinet members are scheduled to make a final decision at a meeting on December 14.
