VISITORS to two York parks will need to abide by new rules that are being implemented by City of York Council to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been imposed at both West Bank Park and Acomb Green, introducing new rules about letting dogs off the lead and drinking alcohol within the parks, and setting fines for breaking those rules at £100.

Council leader David Carr, who is responsible for safer neighbourhoods, decided PSPOs should be put in place after a consultation with local people.

Community safety manager Paul Morrison prepared a report about introducing PSPOs at both parks, which Cllr Carr considered at a public decision session yesterday.

Acomb Green's PSPO brings in a ban on people drinking alcohol in the park and a ban on under 16s having lighters in the park's play area in a bid to stop the equipment being vandalised.

It will give the council or police the power to kick groups of three or more people off the green if they are behaving anti-socially. At yesterday's public decision session, Cllr Carr said: “It [PSPO] is just another tool in the tool kit to help eradicate anti-social behaviour.”

For West Bank Park, the PSPO bans alcohol as well as motorised bikes, brings in a requirement that dogs are kept on leads between 8am and 6pm, and gives police and the council power to kick out groups causing a nuisance.

The proposed alcohol ban for West Bank Park is not designed to stop people meeting up with friends or family, or enjoying quiet drink in the sun, but to cut down incidents on anti-social behaviour and make sure everyone can enjoy the park, according to Mr Morrison’s report.

Before accepting Mr Morrison’s recommendation, Cllr Carr said: “I don’t want to fall into the routine of making dog owners over-cautious about their animals.

“There is a place for everyone at our open spaces.”

A "two stage test" will be used before officers take any enforcement action. The first stage is whether people are in breach of the prohibition, and the second stage is whether any anti-social behaviour is occurring.

In both parks, people could now be fined up to £100 if they are caught breaking the rules.

A PSPO was recently imposed at Holgate Dock, near St Paul's Church, which bans dogs from the small park entirely. There, concerns had arisen from parents and teachers at the nearby St Paul's primary school about the amount of dog dirt left on the grass, which is regularly used by the school for PE lessons and outdoor activities.