Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Part 4, Section 59 - Parks Public Spaces Protection Order
Oxford City Council (the Council) in exercise of the power under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (the Act), being satisfied that the conditions set out in section 59 of the Act have been met, makes the following order:
1. Any person in a public place within the Restricted Area shall be in breach of this Order if they, at any time, on any land in the Restricted Area:
- creates, prepares, lights, is in control of or participates in the use of or enjoyment of a fire or barbeque that is not within a marked designated area,
- lights a firework or any other thing likely to cause a fire,
- releases a lighted sky lantern into the atmosphere, unless:
- they have a reasonable excuse for doing so.
Definitions
2. The Authority means Oxford City Council (the Council).
3. Authorised Officer means a police officer, an employee, agent, contractor of the Council or other person who is authorised in writing by the Council.
4. Relevant Land means the piece of land in a Restricted Area.
5. Restricted Area means the land designated in the Schedule Of Land to this Order.
6. The Order applies to all times of day and night.
7. This Order comes into force on Friday, 4 September 2026 and will remain in force for a period of three years from that date.
Penalty
8. Any person who, without reasonable excuse fails to comply with this Order shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
9. A person failing to comply with this Order may be offered a fixed penalty notice to discharge any liability to conviction for the offence by payment of the fixed penalty.
Schedule of land
Restricted Area:
- Magdalen Wood West Open Space
- Florence Park
- Sunnymead Open Space
- Sunnymead Meadow
- Barracks Lane Meadow
- Meadow Lane South Nature Park
- Bury Knowle Park
- Rock Edge Nature Reserve
- Peasmore Piece Nature Area
- Dunstan Road Park and Nature Area
- Headington Hill Park
- Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve
- Cold Harbour Nature Area
- Dean's Ham Meadow
- Grandpont Nature Park
- Grandpont Open Space, Whitehouse Rd Grandpont Rec
- Hinksey Park
- Longbridges Thameside Nature Area and Island
- Angel and Greyhound Meadow
- Brasenose Woods Open Space
- Lye Valley Nature Reserve
- Court Place Farm Open Space
- Showman’s Field, Marston
- New Marston Recreation Ground
- Fry's Hill Park
- Spindleberry Nature Area
- Botley Park and Tumbling Bay
- Fiddler's Island
- King George's Field
- Port Meadow
- Seacourt Nature Area
- Magdalen Quarry Nature Area
- Rivermead Rd Nature Area
- Woodhouse Way Nature Area, Iffley
- South Park
- Kidneys Nature Area
- Trap Grounds Nature Reserve
- Burgess Field Nature Park
- Cowley Marsh Park
- Walton Well Rd Open Space
- Cutteslowe Park
- Wolvercote Hurst Woodland Fragment
Challenging the validity of orders
An interested person may apply to the High Court to question the validity of—
- This Order, or
- A future variation of this Order.
“Interested person” means an individual who lives in the restricted area or who regularly works in or visits that area.
An appeal against this Order or a future variation of this Order may be made to the High Court within six weeks from the date on which the order or variation is made, on the grounds that:
- Oxford City Council did not have power to make the order or variation, or to include particular prohibitions or requirements imposed by the order (or by the order as varied);
- a requirement under Chapter 2 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 was not complied with in relation to the order or variation.
Date: 1st September 2026
Signature: Tom Hook
Position: Deputy Chief Executive, City and Citizens’ Services
