Issue - meetings
Public Spaces Protection Order; A40 between Witney and Burford
Meeting: 17/12/2025 - Executive (Item 440)
440 Public Spaces Protection Order; A40 between Witney and Burford 
PDF 110 KB
Purpose:
To approve the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order.
Recommendation:
That the Executive resolves to:
1. Approve the Public Spaces Protection Order, Annex A, which prohibits the use of pony and trap carriage(s) for racing and time trials, as delineated on the plan of the Order in Annex A.
Additional documents:
- Annex A PSPO, item 440
PDF 200 KB
- Annex B PSPO consultation results, item 440
PDF 30 KB
- Annex C Equality and Rurality Impact Assessment for PSPO, item 440
PDF 563 KB
- Annex D Sustability Implications, item 440
PDF 76 KB
- Webcast for Public Spaces Protection Order; A40 between Witney and Burford
Minutes:
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to approve the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) as detailed in the report. Councillor Arciszewska advised that the PSPO would be implemented and delivered by Thames Valley Police and asked the Officer to introduce the report to the Executive. The Officer made the following points:
- The PSPO was intended to address ongoing anti-social behaviour which had included repeated local disruption.
- The PSPO would prohibit the activity for a period of three years.
- The PSPO would give police powers that included issuing penalties and prosecution.
- The public consultation had been in support of the PSPO.
Inspector Chris Ball of Thames Valley Police addressed the Executive and made the following further points:
- At present there was no effective legislation to deal with this anti-social behaviour.
- The activities that were proposed to be prohibited by the PSPO were dangerous and had taken place on a major road in the district.
- The power to issue fines was useful, however the key power that the PSPO enabled would be obtaining details from perpetrators which would enable civil and legal proceedings.
A Member of the opposition spoke in favour of the PSPO and made the following points:
- The PSPO was not about restricting traditional pursuits but about keeping the wider community safe and protecting quality of life for residents, road users and the animals.
- Policing data showed a recurring pattern of unregulated pony and trap racing taking place.
- The road in question was not suitable for the activities to be prohibited and was a busy route.
- The robust consultation undertaken by the Council showed 97% of respondents had supported the PSPO and it was the Council’s duty to weigh the needs of all residents.
- The three-year term for the PSPO would allow the Council to monitor and re-assess the position.
Councillor Arciszewska proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Care, seconded the proposal.
This was voted on and approved unanimously.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive:
1. Approved the Public Spaces Protection Order, Annex A, which prohibited the use of pony and trap carriage(s) for racing and time trials, as delineated on the plan of the Order in Annex A.