GOOGLE Street View has unwittingly captured further evidence of anti-social behaviour in the town centre by showing cyclists riding on a crowded pavement.

Traders complained last week that rules banning unruly activity such as drinking and aggressive begging in the central shopping areas were not being enforced.

The Adver found further evidence of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) being broken by drinkers, bike riders and skateboarders. Cyclists have now been spotted on Street View riding through the middle of Regent Street on a busy shopping day.

Though the images were captured in October 2016 – before the order was extended to include bicycle riding – it has long been illegal to cycle on the pavement.

A crackdown took place in 2010, with Wiltshire Police responding to complaints from the public, in particular elderly people, of riders pedalling through the pedestrianised areas.

Cyclists were advised to use racks on the corner of Fleet Street and Bridge Street or by the Brunel West car park or dismount and push their bike through the town centre. Cycling on a footpath is illegal in England and Wales and can be punished with a £50 fixed penalty notice.

The Street View images have emerged after traders said the PSPO was failing to stop cycling, begging, drinking, skateboarding and dogs being let off leads.

Anyone breaking the order can be given a £100 fixed penalty, which if not paid can result in court fees of up to £1,000. Swindon Borough Council and InSwindon, a BID company which supports and represents traders, have been reminding visitors about the rules. The order was launched in November 2015 before being amended after a public consultation the following October.

A spokesman for InSwindon said work was continuing to give advice to people spotted breaking the rules in the town centre, and referred to publicity issued in recent weeks.

Cllr Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, had responded to the Adver’s report by admitting there was “still some work to do”.

Cllr Martyn said: “The PSPO has been a success so far because those people who have been approached for breaching the various conditions have been very apologetic as they did not know about the restrictions and changed their behaviour immediately.

“Clearly though there is still some work to do in order to change some of these behaviours.

“I would like to assure the business owners in the town centre and shoppers that creating a safe and welcoming environment is a priority and we are working with inSwindon and Wiltshire Police to ensure this happens.”

ENDS