Residents who use The Vine in Sevenoaks have until 5 August 2026 to say whether they want anti-social behaviour restrictions at the park to continue for another three years.

Sevenoaks District Council is consulting on whether to extend the Public Spaces Protection Order — a legal tool that lets councils ban specific behaviours in named public spaces — currently in force at The Vine and its surrounding grass areas. The council posted the consultation call on its social media channels this week, asking park users, local residents and businesses to have their say before the summer deadline.

The existing order has been in place since 5 February 2024, when it came into force after Cabinet approved it in December 2023 following an earlier consultation. It was made for up to three years, with a built-in review after two years. That review, scheduled for January 2026, has now triggered the current consultation on whether to push the order forward to December 2029.

What the order actually does

A Public Spaces Protection Order, made under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allows a council to restrict activities it judges to be having a detrimental effect on quality of life in a specific outdoor area. Anyone who breaks the conditions can be issued a warning, a fixed penalty notice, or told to leave the area. The council’s stated reason for introducing the order at The Vine was to tackle anti-social behaviour in and around the park.

The Vine sits close to Sevenoaks town centre and is used daily for dog walking, children’s play, sports and community events — which is exactly why the behaviour restrictions there are felt more keenly than they might be in a quieter spot.

The case for extending it

Supporters of the extension argue that the order gives community safety teams and police a clear framework to deal with nuisance and disorder, making the park safer and more pleasant for families, older residents and children. According to the council’s own rationale, the restrictions are designed to protect the quality of life of everyone who uses the space. National guidance from the Local Government Association backs the use of PSPOs where there is evidence of persistent and unreasonable behaviour — provided the restrictions are proportionate and clearly defined.

The case against

Not everyone is convinced. Critics of PSPOs nationally argue that such orders can end up criminalising low-level behaviour, with young people and marginalised groups often bearing the brunt of enforcement. Some residents may feel the order is drawn too broadly, or that it could be applied inconsistently. Others question whether enforcement-led measures tackle the root causes at all — pointing instead to community-based approaches, youth provision and social support as more effective long-term answers.

There’s also a straightforward evidential question. No publicly available figures exist on how many warnings or penalty notices have been issued at The Vine since February 2024, making it hard for residents to judge whether the order has materially improved things on the ground.

What happens next

After the consultation closes on 5 August 2026, responses will go to the People & Places Advisory Committee on 10 September 2026. Cabinet will then consider the extension proposal on 22 September 2026. If Cabinet agrees, the order can run for up to a further three years — taking it through to December 2029.

Key information

  • Consultation deadline: 5 August 2026 — views submitted after this date will not feed into the initial decision
  • Committee consideration: People & Places Advisory Committee, 10 September 2026
  • Cabinet decision: 22 September 2026
  • Potential new end date: December 2029 if the extension is approved