Heanor: Town centre troublemakers facing council fines

Market Place in Heanor is currently undergoing construction work

A council could be getting new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in a Derbyshire town centre.

Amber Valley Borough Council has proposed a public spaces protection order (PSPO) for Heanor Market Place that would allow fixed penalty notices to be given for a range of offences.

Deputy leader Emma Monkman said there had been a growing number of incidents over the past six months.

The plan will be discussed by the council later this month.

Ms Monkman said the council had received reports of eggs being thrown at members of the public along with "reckless" and intimidating behaviour on bikes and scooters.

The proposed PSPO would mean fines could be issued to people for:

• Wearing face coverings in an attempt to conceal their identity to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person; this includes scarves, balaclavas and masks

• Playing unreasonably loud music from any device or vehicle within the restricted area

• Cycling, skateboarding, scootering and hover-boarding or using similar devices within the restricted area

The plan is due to go through an initial consultation in front of the council's cabinet on Wednesday.

Bethany Galloway uses a motorised vehicle

Heanor residents told the BBC they agreed anti-social behaviour needed to be tackled in the town centre.

Bethany Galloway, 27, said: "I don't like it, I've been called names such as a cripple but I've just learned to ignore it.

"I think action is needed because when I was a kid, we used to play out until it was dark and there wasn't this much animosity on the streets."

Rachael Newton, 44, said: "I agree with it [the PSPO]. I think it's intimidating for some people when you've got children wearing masks with loud music playing and I think it's a good thing to stop it.

"Most evenings I see young ones sat in gangs and I think people don't go out anymore because of it."

Rachael Newton says people are scared to go to the market place

Cheryl Beckworth, 41, from the community centre Infinite Wellbeing, said she would welcome new powers but felt young people should be given a chance.

"When we first opened in July, we had a little bit of criminal damage on the building but since we developed that relationship with them, they come in and help us," she said.

"They wash pots with us and help us bake cakes so I think young people just need something to occupy them in a safe place where they are welcomed and have something to do."

Cheryl Beckworth says young people help her wash pots and bake cakes at the community centre