E-scooter and e-bike ban proposed for town centre

E-scooters would be banned from Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre under the proposals

Riding e-scooters and some e-bikes could be banned in a town centre under new proposals put forward by a borough council.

The ban would be included in a renewed public space protection order (PSPO) covering Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre in Staffordshire.

It would apply to people riding e-scooters and some e-bikes "which do not meet the standard requirements of an electronically assisted pedal cycle", according to a Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council report.

The authority's public protection and licensing committee was told the vehicles could go at "quite considerable speeds" and the proposed ban would "make sure people are safe".

Councillor Joan Whieldon, committee chairwoman, said: "E-anything terrifies me because you can't hear them. I nearly had a car go over my foot because it was an e-car. It's the same with bikes."

The report said people would be able to push or walk alongside their e-scooters or non-compliant e-bikes through the exclusion zone.

The PSPO covers all of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre

Religious groups setting up stalls, tables or leaflet stands would also need to get permission from the authority under the planned PSPO changes.

The report said this was part of the council's drive to control "temporary structures" in the town centre.

During its meeting last Wednesday, the committee agreed to begin a 12-week public consultation to gather the views of residents and businesses.

The order currently in place bans activities such as drinking alcohol in the street, drug taking, littering, urinating in public view and "aggressive begging".

Eight fixed penalty notices were issued to people caught breaching the PSPO during 2023, doubling to 16 in 2024.

Four were handed out in the first seven months of 2025, the council report said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.