Warwick council does U-turn over proposed dog controls

Warwick District Council has decided against introducing new dog controls in many of its parks and open spaces.

The council had been considering updates to its public space protection orders (PSPOs), such as widespread increased restrictions in Leamington’s Victoria Park and Pump Room Gardens, parts of St Nicholas Park in Warwick, and Kenilworth’s Abbey Fields.

However, when members of the council’s licensing and regulation committee met earlier this week it was recommended that they introduce more lenient measures. Under the updated proposals, dogs will:

• continue to be excluded from children’s play areas and sports courts, the racetrack at Warwick Racecourse and Warwickshire Crematorium in Oakley Wood.
• continue to be kept on leads across sports pitches when in use and in Jephson Gardens.
• be required to be put on leads in Abbey Fields, in areas including the path linking the car park to the leisure centre, and between Finham Brook and the lake.
• be required to be put on lead in the skate park area in Victoria Park, and in the spectator’s area at the bowling green.
• excluded within the learn to ride and skate park areas at Newbold Comyn.

Councillors made these decisions after looking at more than 800 public consultation responses alongside evidence from a working group and police.

In addition, a petition attracted more than 1,600 signatures.