Dudley Council has agreed to explore measures that could see privately owned e‑scooters banned from town centres following an incident in Stourbridge in which a 73‑year‑old woman was knocked over and hospitalised.
Council backs move to consider PSPOs
At a recent council meeting members unanimously accepted a Notice of Motion urging action over the illegal use of e‑scooters. The motion, put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Tromans, calls for the authority to consider introducing Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to stop privately owned e‑scooters being ridden in town centre areas.
“That individual was hospitalised and is only just recovering,”
The council motion references national data and local concerns. It highlights that there are an estimated up to one million e‑scooters in use across the country and that about 82% of them are privately owned. Members cited government figures suggesting annual e‑scooter incidents exceed 1,400, with nearly 500 people sustaining serious injuries and multiple fatalities reported each year.
Different views among councillors
Speakers at the meeting stressed both public safety and enforcement challenges. Cllr Tromans pointed to the recent Stourbridge injury and the threat posed by reckless riders. Cllr Ryan Priest said many residents would not be aware that privately owned e‑scooters are illegal on public roads and paths unless part of an authorised rental scheme.
Cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, Cllr Simon Phipps, acknowledged the potential legitimate use of legal rental e‑scooters around city centres, but said partners including the police must work together to tackle high‑speed offenders.
Context and practical implications
Dudley currently has no authorised rental e‑scooter scheme. If the council proceeds with a PSPO it would create a legal mechanism to prohibit riding privately owned e‑scooters in specified public spaces; breaches can be dealt with through fixed penalties. Any decision would require careful drafting, a public consultation and collaboration with West Midlands Police to ensure enforceability.
- Incident prompting action: 73‑year‑old woman knocked over in Stourbridge and hospitalised.
- National figures cited: up to 1,000,000 e‑scooters; 82% privately owned; >1,400 casualties a year; ~500 serious injuries.
- Proposed measure: consider PSPOs to ban privately owned e‑scooters in town centres.
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Estimated e‑scooters in use nationally | Up to 1,000,000 |
| Privately owned proportion | 82% |
| Annual e‑scooter casualties | Over 1,400 |
| Annual serious injuries | Nearly 500 |
Residents concerned about e‑scooter safety or enforcement should contact their local councillors or West Midlands Police. Any formal move to introduce a PSPO would be subject to further reports and likely public consultation before coming into force.
This development adds to a recent tightening of Dudley Council's approach to antisocial behaviour, which has included new tenancy provisions and the use of drones for monitoring. How quickly the authority moves from consideration to implementation will depend on legal assessments and partner agency cooperation.
