Council to debate crackdown on illegal e-bikes and face coverings in public
By Mark Smith - Local Democracy Reporter 9th Oct 2026
The use of e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as the wearing of face coverings in public, are set to come under the spotlight at a Cheshire West and Chester Council meeting next week.
A motion has been tabled for Full Council which covers two broad topics.
One will call on the Government to speed up legislation regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, and consider the introduction of mandatory crash helmets, insurance, and licensing to bring them into line with other motorised vehicles.
It would also encourage the council to work with Cheshire Police to tackle the issue, including greater use of updated laws to allow for more rapid seizure of vehicles being driven illegally.
The other aspect of the motion relates to face coverings.
It would explore Nottingham City Council's use of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to restrict the use of face coverings, including balaclavas, in public spaces to tackle anti-social behaviour, and consider the use of the same powers within the borough.
Nottingham became one of the first cities in the UK to introduce restrictions on balaclavas.
They allow police and community protection officers to ask people to remove them if they 'reasonably believe' they are being used to conceal their identity to commit crime or anti-social behaviour.
Anyone who refuses could face a £70 fixed penalty notice or be prosecuted, with courts able to impose a maximum fine of £1,000.
The notice of motion - which has been tabled by councillor Peter Wheeler - said E-bikes and E-scooters had the potential to be an important part of the solution to tackle emissions and reduce impacts on the climate, but raised concerns about some aspect of their use.
It said: "The use of e-bikes and e-scooters is regulated on public roads and footways.
"Privately owned e-scooters are not permitted on public land or highways unless they are part of a local and regulated scooter rental scheme.
"This requires the user to have a provisional or full driving licence.
"Privately owned e-bikes and e-scooters are often being used in a way that is dangerous and present a risk to the safety of others."
On the issues of face coverings it called on councillors to say they 'noted the concern of residents' that face obscurity was being used as a tool to commit anti-social behaviour and other crimes.
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