By Mark Page
Two people have been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after being caught illegally cycling in Grimsby town centre.
A North East Lincolnshire councillor has praised the rules which led to the prosecutions after the pair failed to pay the fines they were issued in July last year which resulted in court proceedings against them.
Between them, the pair were ordered to pay 拢1,128 in fines, a victims’ surcharge and costs at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court.
Grimsby town centre is subject to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which is intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour by imposing conditions on the use of the area to ensure everyone can use it without experiencing nuisance and annoyance.
鈥淲hilst some suggest these measures are too harsh, there are clear examples of why these PSPOs are in place鈥, said Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities.
In May 2024, Susan Godfrey was scarred for life by a cyclist who had ignored the rules. Speaking about the PSPO after recovering from her injuries, Susan said: 鈥淚鈥檓 the living proof of why these PSPOs are in place. If that happened to a child or someone older, they could鈥檝e been killed.
鈥淚 just hope people will think more about what they鈥檙e doing. My arm shows how important it is to not cycle down there. Please, just do the right thing.鈥
Meanwhile, the council has recently installed a number of planters and living walls to help brighten up Victoria Street as part of the Levelling Up Funding awarded to Grimsby in May last year.
Cllr Shepherd added: 鈥淭hese planters and living walls ensure that we鈥檙e making Grimsby town centre a safer, more welcoming and inviting space for residents and visitors.
鈥淭hey are also a further example of why the PSPO around cycling is so important. Their installation means the public pathways are slightly narrower than before.
鈥淲hilst there is still ample space for emergency vehicles and other business related vehicles down Victoria Street, it is essential that people respect the PSPO to prevent any other injuries such as the one sustained by Susan.
鈥淲e will continue to enforce this alongside our Days of Action and ever improving CCTV system that has aided in a multitude of incidents across the town centre, all of which has paid in to reducing crime by 5 per cent over the past two years.鈥