Dorset Council’s new dog controls confirmed
Dorset Council’s new 2024 dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has officially been confirmed.
The order states that:
- dog walkers are to pick up poo in all public spaces and dispose of it appropriately.
- no dogs are allowed in enclosed children’s play areas or on marked sports pitches.
- no dogs are allowed on certain beaches between 1 May and 30 September.
- dogs are to be put on a lead when instructed to do so by an authorised officer.
- dogs are to be kept on a lead in signposted and identified areas.
Areas where you have to keep your dog on a lead are: cemeteries, churchyards or graveyards, council owned allotments, formal public gardens, within 5 metres of marked sports pitches, council owned car parks, Rodwell Trail Weymouth, on roads and walkways close to certain beaches, and certain beaches dependent on season.
The move follows a 10-week consultation that gathered views from residents, visitors, businesses and other organisations.
The survey received 4,221 responses 80% of responses were from local residents, with 16.5% from visitors, and 2.8% from other. In addition, 62% of responses came from dog owners.
Councillor Laura Beddow, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to implement the order according to the thoughts of most respondents.
“As the winter requirement to keep dogs on leads at Front Town Beach, Lyme Regis has now been removed, we will undertake a Spring review of that aspect of the order.”
There is now a period of six weeks where the order can be challenged on the grounds that the council does not have the power to make or include specific requirement within the order, or that the legislation related to PSPO has not been followed.
If there isn’t a challenge the order will come into effect on 1 January 2024 and will remain in place for three years.
