Cowbar public spaces protection order
The council has renewed the existing powers it has to prohibit antisocial behaviour and nuisance on open space at Cowbar to tackle issues associated with visitors camping here including overnight.
The order does not prohibit camping but does prohibit a range of antisocial behaviours which have been associated with a minority of visitors to Cowbar over the last few years. The council welcomes responsible visitors and encourages them to respect their surroundings including nearby natural habitats during their stay.
A hybrid enforcement model, whereby both Cleveland police and the council will carry out enforcement activities and issue fixed penalty notices for breaches, has been agreed with Cleveland police.
The PSPO gives police officers (or an authorised person) discretionary powers to take enforcement action by issuing on the spot £100 fines (fixed penalty notice) to members of the public who:
- deposits any litter anywhere within the Cowbar Open Space restricted area other than in a receptable intended for this purpose (Cleveland police and Redcar & Cleveland council)
- urinates or defecate anywhere within the Cowbar Open Space restricted area (Cleveland police and Redcar & Cleveland council)
- deposits any human waste, including grey water or chemical toilet waste, anywhere within the Cowbar Open Space restricted area other than in a facility designed for this purpose (Redcar & Cleveland council)
- lights a fire, barbeque (including disposable barbeques), candle or stove of any type in the Cowbar Open Space restricted area (Redcar & Cleveland council)
- places, throws or drops anything likely to cause a fire (Redcar & Cleveland council)
- acts in such a way which causes or is likely to cause alarm, harassment, distress, or nuisance to the public, including people living in the locality, in particular shouting and swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating (including by the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions) another person (Cleveland police and Redcar & Cleveland council)
You can find further details of the restrictions in place at this location including a map showing the extent of the no antisocial behaviour and nuisance zone by viewing the PSPO documents below:
PSPO consultations
The council recently sought views on its proposal to renew or extend the the existing powers it had brought into force October 2022 to tackle antisocial behaviour and nuisance on open space at Cowbar Lane, Cowbar, for another 18 months (until 31 March 2027).
This consultation closed on Monday 8 September 2025.
Having complied with consultation and notification requirements, the council has now exercised its powers, under sections 60 and 61 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing (2014) Act, to extend the Cowbar Open Space Public Spaces Protection Order 2022 until 31 March 2027, unless discharged, varied or extended by any other Orders, to tackle crime and/or antisocial behaviour.
You can view a summary of the consultation outcome here https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/consultations/previous-consultations
The council intends to carry out a thorough-going review considering a range of issues which have emerged recently, that could be addressed by varying the Order further, including:
- the lighting of fires, barbeques (including disposable barbeques), candles or stoves of any type at Saltburn beach
- activities likely to cause fires at some of our upland natural spaces including moors, heaths and plantations, such as Eston hills, Errington woods, and Guisborough woods etc.
- antisocial behaviour and nuisance activities associated with overnight campers at other locations, including Marine Parade, Saltburn by the sea, and at the car park and its immediate neighbourhoods at Cattersty sands, Skinningrove
Though the council was not able to properly consider these issues when reviewing the Order earlier this summer, this review will now be undertaken as soon as practicably possible (and no later than spring/early summer 2026)