Councillors from all parties have backed the three year extension of a ban on protests or vigils around the BPAS pregnancy advisory clinic.

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) around the clinic in Rosslyn Road, East Twickenham, will remain after approval from all parties at the Full Council Meeting.

The decision comes on the back of a six-week long formal consultation held in the summer, which received over 1,300 responses with 94per cent of respondents agreeing with the proposal.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a PSPO can be implemented if activities carried out in the local area have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the locality and that the effect is of a persistent and continuing nature so as to make activities unreasonable, provided the PSPO is reasonable and proportionate.

The Rosslyn Road PSPO originally came into force in April 2019, and since then, there have been no known breaches of the restrictions in the buffer zone area and there have been no further petitions, complaints or concerns raised with the Council.

Councillor Rob O'Carroll, who supported the extension at the Council meeting, said: "Protecting the health and wellbeing of the people visiting this clinic is our absolute priority – they should be allowed to access services without feeling intimidated or distressed.

"The PSPO is clearly having a positive impact, we have seen no breaches and local residents have also reported the positive impact on the area."

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: "I am grateful to those who have been respectful of the PSPO and remind everyone that, as with the current PSPO, going forward it would not ban anyone from protesting or hosting a vigil, but would prevent such protests or vigils taking place near the clinic."