Taxi drivers and businesses on Midland Road in Derby continue to face challenges linked to street drinking and anti-social behaviour, despite efforts to improve the area over the past two years. Concerns about the state of Midland Road, a street near Derby railway station, have resurfaced following a recent licensing meeting held by Derby City Council.
A key issue discussed at the meeting was an application by the Go Local Extra convenience store, located at the corner of Midland Road and London Road, which sought to vary its licence to allow the sale of super-strength beer. This application was ultimately rejected due to fears it would be difficult to enforce the new conditions and that it could exacerbate existing street drinking problems in what has been described as a "hotspot" zone.
During the hearing, it was revealed that dozens of disorder offences had been reported on Midland Road over the past year alone. Derbyshire police objected to the proposed licence variation, citing concerns that it could make it easier for street drinkers to access alcohol and contribute to anti-social behaviour in the area.
Ateeq Naseem, sales and marketing manager at Albatross Cars—a Derbyshire taxi firm headquartered on Midland Road—commented on the ongoing difficulties faced by taxi drivers. He noted that while the presence of police has improved matters, "there are still problems which need sorting," with monthly calls made to police regarding people being drunk and disorderly.
Mr Naseem told Derby Telegraph, “It has got better, you do see a lot more police – they have been amazing – but it has not gone away. There are people still coming in shouting and being aggressive to the team but they are trained to deal with those situations. It is mainly the alcohol talking. Nobody with a sane mind would come and act in a disorderly manner."
In addition to issues faced by taxi drivers, other local businesses have reported problems. Staff at the WW Winter Ltd photography studio on Midland Road have installed a gate at their entrance after repeated incidents of people sleeping on the doorway and causing damage to the property. One staff member remarked, “It’s a conservation area but it looks like a dump. (The anti-social behaviour) is not what you want to see when you first come from the train station.”
The minutes from the licensing meeting also highlighted that a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering the Midland Road area expired in January 2025. These orders, used to tackle specific public nuisances, are limited to three years and require renewal. The lapse of the PSPO has been linked to intensifying concerns about street drinking in the area.
A spokesperson for Derby City Council explained that while the PSPO has expired, the council retains powers to tackle anti-social behaviour through other mechanisms, including Community Protection Warnings and Notices. The spokesperson said, “We continue to work with partners, specifically the police safer neighbourhood team to address problems of anti-social behaviour (ASB). Where reports and evidence are received, we can and will take action through ASB powers and issue Community Protection Warning and Notices.”
Regarding the PSPO renewal process, the council indicated that it is currently gathering evidence to demonstrate that the issues persist and that an extension is necessary. This includes consultation with the public and affected businesses. The spokesperson added, “The Public Space Protection order lapsed in January 2025. PSPOs are time-limited and are valid for up to three years. We are in the process of renewing the PSPO through a process of evidencing that the issues addressed by the PSPO are still prevalent and that extending the order is necessary to prevent them from recurring.”
Looking ahead, Derby City Council is in the early stages of planning a large-scale regeneration project for the area surrounding Derby railway station, which may include improvements to Midland Road. Local businesses have welcomed the prospect of change, suggesting that such plans are “long overdue” and could significantly improve the area’s appearance and atmosphere.
Mr Naseem expressed hope that the regeneration would have a positive impact but acknowledged the current situation: “The regeneration of the area is going to make things better but at the moment the first thing you see is drunken and disorderly behaviour on Midland Road. It doesn’t give a fair impression of Derby – the city is known for a lot of great things.”
The Derby Telegraph is reporting that while progress has been made through increased police presence and ongoing discussions between stakeholders, challenges related to street drinking and anti-social behaviour remain embedded issues for Midland Road and its community.
Source: Noah Wire Services