Merton Council proposes £500 fines for engine idling and e-scooter use

Merton Council is planning to introduce significant penalties, including fines of up to £500, for a range of behaviours deemed to affect residents' quality of life. These proposed measures include banning engine idling, the public use of nitrous oxide, and the riding of e-scooters in the borough's parks. The council is preparing to expand its borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to address these issues.

Expansion of Public Spaces Protection Orders

The proposed changes represent a broad expansion of the council's PSPO powers, which have previously focused on issues such as public alcohol consumption. The current PSPO targeting street drinking, introduced in 2023, expired in July 2026 without automatic renewal, creating a gap in enforcement. Merton is now considering whether three new distinct protection orders are necessary, including a renewed order for public alcohol prevention.

Among the new proposals is a ban on unauthorised electronic and motor vehicles, including e-scooters, in green spaces. Council officers cited dangers, damage, and disruption to park visitors caused by illegal riding, while noting safeguards for mobility aid users and emergency services. Environmental protection is also a focus, with a proposed borough-wide order to curb stationary engine idling, which contributes to air pollution and noise.

Further measures under consideration include prohibiting vehicles from stopping on school keep-clear zig-zag markings at verified locations with proven safety hazards. The council also proposes to regulate the number of dogs handled by one person, addressing issues of fouling, intimidation, and animal welfare. Other potential fines target public urination, aggressive begging, drug-related nuisance including nitrous oxide use, persistent amplified sound, and unauthorised open fires or barbecues in public parks. Safeguards are planned to prevent penalising individuals experiencing homelessness or engaging in public assembly.

Enforcement and Consultation

Enforcement of PSPO-related fixed penalty notices (FPNs) will primarily be carried out by the council's Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens. Merton Council plans to add four more wardens to its in-house team this financial year to manage the increased workload. Kingdom enforcement officers, who are contracted by the council, will not have powers to enforce the new PSPO orders.

The current FPN for a PSPO breach is £100. However, national legislation introduced in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 could allow the maximum FPN fine to rise to £500 later this year. Council officers stated that while they can consider this increase from late October, the PSPOs are not intended to generate income.

A statutory six-week public consultation on the new proposals is scheduled to begin on 21 September 2026. The council's engagement team will also host face-to-face consultation sessions in Morden, Mitcham, and Wimbledon town centres during the autumn to encourage wider participation from residents, businesses, headteachers, and community organisations.

Cabinet members are scheduled to make a final decision on the proposed measures at a meeting on 14 December.