A ban on loudspeakers and other amplifiers is being extended in West London after a consultation found an overwhelming majority of respondents backed greater protections.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council had proposed expanding the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) following complaints about anti-social behaviour (ASB).The PSPO already prevented the use of amplification equipment in parts of Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and White City.
The consultation, which ran for a month from June 8, proposed extending the order to include a much larger area, going west along Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road in Shepherd’s Bush as far as Coningham Road, and north up to the White City Estate, which was already covered.
Those caught failing to comply can be fined up to £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days.
On its consultation webpage the local authority wrote an increasing number of reports linked to ASB and “noise nuisance” were being received in areas outside of those covered by the restrictions.
The council has now published a decision notice confirming the extension of the PSPO, which will remain in-place until June 23 2028.
It will be formally introduced in the next couple of weeks.
The paper accompanying the decision revealed that of 121 respondents to a question on expanding the order, 107, or 88.4 per cent, agreed with the proposal, with the remaining against.
On whether any additional areas should also be considered, 42.5 per cent of respondents said yes, with 38.6 per cent unsure.
The most common location listed was “whole of Hammersmith and Fulham”.
Angela, who did not wish to give her surname but lives in the extended PSPO zone, said the area suffers from a lot of noise from loudspeakers.
She said some residents have raised concerns about a lack of action from the Law Enforcement Team (LET) or the Met Police when reports about loud noise have been made.
“We regularly get groups of people standing on the corner and blocking the pavement, drinking, playing loud music, taking drugs and being rowdy,” she told the LDRS.
“Our choices are to walk through a rowdy group of people who are clearly high and a cloud of smoke or walk on the road.”
Emma Heath, who runs The Green and The White Horse pubs on Uxbridge Road, said she backs the extension.
She however added that the PSPO will need to be enforced, and that they have had issues with groups hanging around Lime Grove in particular with little in the way of consequences.
Cllr Lisa Homan, Hammersmith and Fulham Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We’ve been listening to concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour in public spaces. Local people told us they want us to extend our existing rules on busking and amplified sound, and to cover more of White City and Shepherds Bush.
“Our new and improved public spaces protection order reflects local feedback and will help make the area safer. It is part of our work to make Hammersmith and Fulham the best place to live, work and socialise.
“Since 2016, we’ve worked with residents to renew and introduce protection orders like this in Shepherds Bush, White City and Hammersmith.
“Since then, our efforts to tackle noise levels have seen complaints drop across the borough.
“Next, we are consulting on our street drinking ban. We invite residents to have their say via this consultation that closes in September.”
