Liberal Democrats slam Oldham Council over poor enforcement of public space protection powers

Oldham Liberal Democrats have hit out at the Council’s Labour and Independent administration over the enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).

PSPOs give the council the power to issue fines to people for anti-social behaviour or for committing environmental crimes in a protected public space.  There are currently nine PSPOs in place across Oldham Borough.

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “We have nine PSPOs in place across the Borough covering our moorlands and many other open spaces.  But Oldham Council only seems to be using enforcement powers in the town centre.  No enforcement action has been taken in the last two years at any other location.

“We know there have been instances where the Council could have used its powers.  Our moorlands are blighted by fly-tipping and are often at risk of fires in the summer months due to the use of disposable BBQs which are prohibited on the moors, never mind the dog fouling! But no action has been taken.”

A Freedom of Information response made available to Oldham Liberal Democrats shows that during 2024, Oldham Council issued no fines at all for offences committed in protected spaces.  In 2025, a total of seven fines were issued, but all related to Oldham’s Town Centre PSPO, meaning in the last two years, no enforcement has taken place outside the town centre.

Councillor Sykes said: “This is yet another example of the Council under Labour and their Independent coalition partners failing to get the basics right and concentrating resources in Oldham Town Centre.  A few years ago, the Council allowed all our PSPOs to lapse completely when the protections needed to be renewed.  Now we are seeing half-hearted enforcement which only applies in Oldham Town Centre.  It is nowhere near good enough.”