A public footpath which poses a “serious safeguarding” issue for a Southampton school is set to be fenced off.

Resident opposition appears to have prevented similar action from being taken at a second site, which would have closed off a popular adventure playground.

After several years of consideration and discussions, Southampton City Council leaders are planning to introduce a public space protection order (PSPO) to prohibit access to Mount Pleasant footpath next to Mount Pleasant Junior School.

Anyone who breaks the restriction imposed by the PSPO could be subject to a fixed penalty notice or taken to court where the maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine

The proposal to block access to the Northumberland Road footpath and the Venny adventure play area behind Maytree Infant and Nursery School is expected to be axed.

A report to the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 27, said: “Serious crime and antisocial behaviour is a long-standing issue for both the Mount Pleasant footpath and the Northumberland Road footpath and play area.

“The issues have been confirmed by the police, local residents, businesses and the council which has continued to deal with the consequences of that crime.

“The two local schools have highlighted that these footpaths present a serious safeguarding issue for the two schools and an ongoing risk to the local residents.”

From 2016 to July 2023 there were 25 offences in the Mount Pleasant alleyway reported to police, including four rapes and six robberies.

Over the same period, Northumberland Road and the play area recorded 53 crime reports, with frequent drug-related matters and assaults, as well as several sexual offences and robberies.

A statement written by a police officer in 2020 on the Mount Pleasant footpath said it was regularly used by sex workers, adding that there had been a number of attacks in the alleyway resulting in nasty injuries and a woman being raped.

The officer said closing the route would greatly reduce the risk to sex workers and reduce the amount of drug paraphernalia and ‘sex litter’ in the area.

While 65 per cent of respondents in a council public consultation were in favour of the Mount Pleasant PSPO, 71 per cent were against the measure in Northumberland Road.

Explaining the opposition, the report said: “The respondents considered that the loss of the green space at the Northumberland Road play area would have a significant impact and the feedback from the consultation advocated keeping the Venny open and usable by the community.”

The report added that the Mount Pleasant PSPO could displace criminal and antisocial behaviours to other areas, with Northumberland Road the “closest and easiest place” for the activity to migrate to.

The cost of fencing off Mount Pleasant footpath is estimated to be £25,000 and should be completed before the end of the year, subject to cabinet approval.

Councils have powers to make PSPOs if they are satisfied various conditions are met.

In this case, the conditions are that activities carried out in a public place within the local authority area have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the area and the activities are of a persistent or continuing nature, which makes them unreasonable and justifies the restrictions.

Officers plan to have further discussions and explore alternatives for Northumberland Road footpath and The Venny.

This could include improving the condition of the area and engaging with local groups such as the ‘friends of the adventure playground’.