Hounslow Council has approved a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the Montague Road West car park in an effort to combat antisocial behaviour that has plagued the area for over a decade. The order aims to address issues affecting the quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors.

The three-year order, effective from 1 November 2025, was decided during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, following a period of consultation which showed strong public support for the measure.

Data presented at the meeting highlighted the need for the PSPO, including instances of police issuing dispersal orders in January 2024 and March 2025 due to antisocial behaviour, drug use, and defecation. Reports from Addiction Recovery Community (ARC) Hounslow also detailed issues with rough sleeping, littering, and intimidation of staff. The council estimates that its teams have invested approximately 240 hours addressing these issues, incurring around £6,700 in sanitation costs from January to September 2024. The council also noted a loss of revenue due to car park closures and social media comments from residents expressing concerns about safety and sanitation.

The council and its partners have been addressing antisocial behaviour linked to Montague Road West Car Park since April 2013. Issues have included littering, rough sleeping, defecation, urination, harassment, public drinking and drug use. An assault on a council staff member addressing these issues was also reported to the police, according to the Implementation of Public Space Protection Order Montague Road West Car Park - Cabinet Report final.

Councillor Pritam Grewal, Lead Member for Community Safety, Customer Experience and Enforcement, noted the strong public support for the measure following a recent consultation. The consultation results indicated that 77.6% of respondents strongly supported the order, and 12.4% somewhat supported it. Furthermore, 71.2% of respondents believed the PSPO would positively impact Hounslow Town Centre.

The PSPO will prohibit the following activities within the Montague Road West car park:

  • Rough sleeping
  • Urination
  • Defecation
  • Deposit of saliva or mucus
  • Use of the premises overnight other than for the purpose of parking vehicles
  • Littering
  • Obstruction of entrance or exit to stairwells
  • Taking of psychoactive substances
  • Congregating or loitering as part of a group of persons in connection with any of the said activities

Congregating or loitering is prohibited if it is connected to any of the other prohibited activities listed in the order, such as rough sleeping, urination, defecation, or drug use.

According to the council, a breach of the order could lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100, and failure to pay could result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. The PSPO will be enforced by delegated officers and police. The document does not specify how many officers will be dedicated to patrolling the Montague Road West car park.

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, expressed his support for the PSPO, stating that it represents a positive step towards reassuring residents and sends a clear message that the council is prepared to take action in other areas of the borough where similar issues arise. He also emphasised the council's commitment to offering support to those in need, either directly or through partner organisations.

The Implementation of Public Space Protection Order Montague Road West Car Park - Cabinet Report final also notes that outreach support will be provided to anyone found to be rough sleeping or struggling with substance misuse. The Rough Sleeping Outreach Team advised that all individuals identified as rough sleeping should be referred to the outreach service to ensure that appropriate support is provided and that education and prevention measures are prioritised, with referrals to relevant services taking place before enforcement action is considered.