Chichester dog controls extended for three years

An order banning dogs from parts of Chichester, West Sussex, has been extended for three years following a public consultation.

The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which was put in place by Chichester District Council in 2020, covers Priory Park, Bishop’s Palace Gardens, parts of the beach at Selsey during the summer months, and fenced children’s play areas.

The PSPO also makes it an offence not to clean up dog mess and makes it an offence not to put a dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer.

Anyone caught breaching the rules can be served with a fixed penalty notice of £100, reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.

Some 380 people responded to a public consultation in the spring asking if they would like to see the scheme extended – and 329 of them said yes.

A recent council meeting heard that 11 fixed penalty notices were served during the first three years of the PSPO.