Monmouthshire County Council set to introduce new dog controls

Monmouthshire County Council is set to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for dog controls on 1 June.

The order will see dog walkers required to pick up their dog’s poo on any public land, at present there is only a duty to do so in Monmouthshire in designated areas, and they will have to show they have a bag if requested by an authorised officer.

The order will also see dogs banned from 180 places marked as exclusion areas that include children’s play parks, sports pitches and grounds of leisure centres, and schools.

Failure to comply with the order would be a criminal offence and anyone convicted by a court could be fined up to £1,000 but fixed penalty notices – of £100 to be paid within 14 days – will be offered as an alternative, with that reduced to £75 for those able to pay within 10 days.

There will also be the power for council officers to order a person in charge of a dog to put a lead on the animal if it is considered to be out of control or causing alarm or distress or to prevent a nuisance in a public space.

The council consulted on the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for dog controls in October and November last year and found 479 people (93%) supported requiring dog walkers to clean up after their animals and 456, or 88%, backed the requirement to carry a bag to pick up poo.

In addition, there was support for the plans to ban dogs from certain areas (64%), and 72% supporting creating ‘dogs on lead areas’, while 85% agreed with a the ‘dog on lead by direction’ order.

The council also consulted with the police and major landowners including housing associations, the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, and the National Trust and dog and animal welfare groups.

Signs informing people of the restrictions are to be installed.

The council’s cabinet will be asked to approve making the orders, which will last for three years, when it meets on 10 April.

It’s time to enter the Dog Professionals Awards!