Durham County Council consults on new dog control measures

Durham County Council is consulting on proposals to extend dog control measures across the county.

The council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in 2017 in response to community concerns about irresponsible dog ownership, which is due for renewal in May.

The existing PSPO gives the council powers to issue a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice for allowing a dog to foul without picking it up, allowing a dog to stray, failure to put a dog on a lead when asked to do so by an authorised person, and allowing a dog in a fenced off play area.

The additional measures proposed include banning dogs from fenced-off play areas, tennis courts and games areas; keeping dogs on leads in churchyards, cemeteries and crematoria; requiring dogs to be on leads on identified marked sports pitches; restricting dog walkers to walk a maximum of six dogs at once; requiring all dogs in an open space to have a collar and tag; and banning dogs from the “slope” beach in Seaham between 10am and 6pm from May to September.

Councillor Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, said: “What we’re looking to do now is build on the existing PSPO by making a range of additions to it. The additional offences we’re proposing are in response to the kinds of things people have told us over recent years, such as requiring dogs to be on leads in cemeteries and identified marked sports pitches.

“Most of all, we just really want to hear what people think. We are seeking the views of local residents, businesses and community groups and they’ll all be taken into consideration before any decisions are made.”

The consultation will run for seven weeks before closing on Monday 13 March.

If agreed, the new PSPO would be introduced in May 2023 and reviewed after three years.

For full details of the proposals and to take part in the consultation click here.