Leicester Council Expands Public Space Order

0:00Lester City Council is pushing to roll out their public space's protection order across the entire city, not just the center. They kicked it off in the city center back in April 2025, letting Warden slap 100-pound fines on stuff like aggressive begging, street drinking, and reckless riding on electric bikes or scooters. Now they're consulting residents this month to extend those powers to outer neighborhoods with a possible star by September. Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says they'll hire six new Warden soon, bringing the total to 11 on the streets for better enforcement. The original rules also curb amplified speakers and unapproved tables or gazebo's on public paths. From April 2025 to April 2026, Warden's handed out just 14 fines, mostly for those setups, which the council calls. Proof it's deterring bad behavior without needing tons of tickets. Some political folks in street preachers worry it might stop on free speech, but Soulsby stresses it's all about stopping nuisances, not protests, or worship.

1:04Fines are the absolute last resort, he says, and the low numbers show real change in the center. They're eyeing extras like cracking down on Rowdy Fireworks too, and while e-bike dangers persist with zero fines so far, this beefed-up team should. Make the whole city feel safer real quick. I'm Cory with the story. That's your Lester News today update. AI powered and always on.