Drivers in a Surrey town could soon be hit with on-the-spot fines for unnecessarily sounding their car horns or parking on pavements, under new powers being considered by local authorities.
Council Targets Anti-Social Driving
Tandridge District Council is poised to discuss the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Caterham Valley following a flood of complaints from residents about dangerous and inconsiderate road users. The committee is due to review the public consultation responses on Tuesday 13th January 2026.
If approved, the order would grant enforcement officers the power to issue fixed penalty notices of £100 for specific offences in the town centre. The crackdown would target two main issues:
- Excessive or inappropriate use of a vehicle's horn.
- Vehicles mounting or parking on pavements along sections of Croydon Road, Godstone Road, all of Station Avenue, and the service road to Waitrose and Lidl car parks.
The proposed PSPO would apply to all vehicles, including cars, lorries, buses, motorbikes, mopeds, and e-scooters.
Responding to Resident Concerns
The council launched a public consultation before Christmas 2025, citing the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 as the legal basis for the new measures. Council officers stated the order is intended to tackle behaviour that has a "detrimental and persistent impact on the quality of life" of people in the area.
The consultation, which asked residents to complete an online survey and even upload photographic evidence, sparked hundreds of responses. The local authority has now closed the feedback period, which ended on Wednesday 31st December 2025.
Broader Powers Against Intimidation
Beyond horn use and pavement parking, the proposed PSPO also contains a clause to fine individuals for "showing threatening or intimidating behaviour" in the designated public space. This broader power aims to address a wider spectrum of anti-social conduct that has been reported in the town centre.
The final decision now rests with the council committee. If they vote in favour, Caterham Valley will join a growing number of UK towns using PSPOs to manage persistent local nuisances and improve community safety and wellbeing.
