19/05/2026
Following their public consultation between 8 December 2025 and 18 January 2026, Gravesham Borough Council will be considering a Borough-wide Public Space Consultation Order (PSPO) at their Cabinet meeting on 26 May, in readiness for the Full Council meeting on 16th June. The object of the PSPO is to combat the anti-social use of motorised vehicles, bicycles or any other applicable modes of transport, including unnecessary revving of engine/s and/or use of horns; unnecessary and/or repeated rapid acceleration and/or deceleration; racing; performing stunts including but not limited to, dough-nutting, handbrake turns, J-turns, drifting, wheel spinning/burnouts and wheelies. It also targets using any vehicle on land other than the road, e.g. parks, open spaces, woods, without the landowner’s permission or in any way which causes or is likely to cause a nuisance or risk to others.
It is encouraging to note that item 4.3.3 of the agenda paper specifically refers to a letter sent by Shorne Parish Council in October 2025 regarding ongoing nuisance and safety concerns being experienced due to irresponsible motor cyclists using Park Pale for speed trials and stunt riding. It also refers to the petition with over 900 signatories sent by the Parish Council to the Chief Constable and to the Chief Executive of Kent County Council asking for action to address this problem, which is felt to pose a real danger to pedestrians, cyclists, legitimate users of Park Pale and to the riders themselves, quite apart from the noise disturbance caused to residents.
Whilst a PSPO is unlikely to eliminate the problem, it provides an additional tool where offenders apprehended will be able to be issued on-the-spot fixed penalty notices.
