Hammersmith and Fulham Council has confirmed the extension of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) banning loudspeakers and other amplifiers, following a consultation in which 88.4 per cent of respondents supported the move. The extended order will cover a larger area of Shepherd's Bush and White City, aiming to reduce noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour (ASB) complaints.
Consultation Results and Extended Coverage
The consultation, which ran from June 8 for a month, proposed extending the existing PSPO, which already covered parts of Hammersmith, Shepherd's Bush, and White City. The new order extends west along Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush as far as Coningham Road, and north up to the White City Estate, which was already covered. The council reported an increasing number of ASB and noise nuisance complaints in areas outside the original restrictions.
Of the 121 respondents to a question on expanding the order, 107 (88.4 per cent) agreed, while the rest were against. When asked if additional areas should be considered, 42.5 per cent said yes, with 38.6 per cent unsure; the most common suggestion was the whole of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Enforcement and Fines
Those caught failing to comply with the PSPO can be fined up to £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days. The decision notice confirms the extension will remain in place until June 23, 2028, and will be formally introduced in the next couple of weeks.
Angela, a resident in the extended zone who did not wish to give her surname, said the area suffers from significant loudspeaker noise. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We regularly get groups of people standing on the corner and blocking the pavement, drinking, playing loud music, taking drugs and being rowdy. Our choices are to walk through a rowdy group of people who are clearly high and a cloud of smoke or walk on the road.” She also noted that some residents have raised concerns about a lack of action from the Law Enforcement Team (LET) or the Met Police when reports about loud noise are made.
Local Business and Council Response
Emma Heath, who runs The Green and The White Horse pubs on Uxbridge Road, said she backs the extension but stressed the need for enforcement, noting issues with groups hanging around Lime Grove with little consequence.
Cllr Lisa Homan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We've been listening to concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour in public spaces. Local people told us they want us to extend our existing rules on busking and amplified sound, and to cover more of White City and Shepherds Bush. Our new and improved public spaces protection order reflects local feedback and will help make the area safer. It is part of our work to make Hammersmith and Fulham the best place to live, work and socialise.” She added that since 2016, the council has worked with residents on such orders, and complaints about noise have dropped across the borough. The council is now consulting on a street drinking ban, which closes in September.
