North Northamptonshire Council has asked people for their views on a plan to install gates on Hillside Road (Little Harrowden) and introduce new rules to curb anti‑social behaviour in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The consultation, published on 9 February 2026, says the measures aim to reduce crime and public nuisance to make the area safer for residents and shoppers.
The plan involves creating a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). According to North Northamptonshire Council, a PSPO would enable the council and the police to issue fines and other sanctions for breaches of the order. The council’s consultation lists prohibitions that would apply in the area — including consumption of alcohol, use of intoxicating substances, public sexual activity, using the public space as a toilet, and depositing litter or fly‑tipping — and the reporter’s brief also describes the PSPO as targeting unwanted activity such as street drinking and aggressive begging. The council says the PSPO would authorise the installation of vehicle restriction barrier gates in the area to help tackle persistent environmental crime and nuisance.
Under the proposal, physical gates would be fitted to Hillside Road to restrict access and reduce the use of that route for criminal or antisocial activity. The consultation presents the measure as part of the wider Wellingborough Masterplan: NNC has recently identified Wellingborough town centre as the area most in need of regeneration within the county.
“The introduction of a PSPO would give the police and the council more powers to tackle unwanted activity in this section of Wellingborough,” said Cllr Gregory Wilcox, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Communities, in the council’s consultation announcement. Residents and business owners can respond to the consultation until 23:59 on 1 March 2026. If the PSPO and gating are approved, the council’s papers indicate the matter will be considered by the North Northamptonshire Council Executive in Spring 2026.
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