Dog walkers face new dog controls in South Ribble

A new public space protection order is set to be reintroduced in South Ribble, Lancashire, after it ran out in November.

South Ribble Borough Council cabinet members have now agreed to put the order back in place after a public consultation in the summer.

Under the rules, dogs will be banned from all council-owned play areas, multi-use games areas and ball courts, bowling greens – except the perimeter of the facilities – skate parks, BMX tracks and sports pitches when they are in use for an organised activity. They must also not be allowed to stray from the footpaths and highways within cemeteries and crematorium grounds.

In addition, dogs will have to be kept on a lead on all roads and footpaths, on land used by businesses for eating and drinking and in sporting, recreational and educational areas when planned activities are taking place.

They will also have to be put on a leash in Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve, the access land to Longton Marsh, Hurst Grange Coach House and within Worden Park’s formal gardens, maze, walled garden, fish pond boardwalk and arts and craft centre courtyard.

Anyone in control of a dog in a public place must remove any faeces and must have with them a device for or other suitable means of picking it up that they can produce on request of a council officer.

Fixed penalty notices of £100 can be issued for failure to comply.