New dog control measures considered for Devon beaches
Dog owners will be required to carry the means to pick up after their pet while walking them on certain beaches in Devon - if new measures are approved.
South Hams District Council is reviewing its dog control orders, which dictate where dog walkers can take their dogs and how they are expected to behave when they are there.
At present, an order is in place preventing dog owners from walking their dogs at on Mouthwell Sands at Hope Cove, South Sands at Salcombe, and part of Bigbury beach.
This applies between May 1 and September 30, and has been in place since 2014.
Now the authority is reviewing the order, and is considering an amendment which would require dog owners to carry the means to pick up after their pet.
It follows a public consultation last year in which more than 90% of responders were in favour of public access to dog-free beaches during peak seasonal times.
Anyone breaching the rules could be subject to a £100 fine.
THE NEW PSPO RULES
All dog walkers must have means to pick up after their dog.
Dogs must be on leads in car parks, cemeteries and churchyards, any fenced, hedged or walled pond, area of water or nature reserve, marked sports fields whilst organised sport is in progress, areas delineated as formal gardens, and Courtenay Park, Salcombe.
Dogs are excluded from any fenced, hedged or walled children’s play area, any fenced, hedged or walled bowling green, any fenced, hedged or walled tennis court, any fenced, hedged or walled skateboard or BMX park, any fenced, hedged or walled putting green.
Dogs are excluded between May 1 and September 30 between 10am and 7pm at Mouthwell Sands at Hope Cove.
Dogs are excluded between May 1 and September 30 at all times at South Sands, Salcombe, except during Ferry operating times when dogs are permitted to cross the Sands on a lead to embark and disembark to and from the Ferry.
Dogs are excluded between May 1 and September 30 at all times on the part of Bigbury Beach from the lifeguard steps to the high tide mark to the east.
Honey Foskett, Senior Specialist for Environmental Health, for South Hams District Council said: “Feedback from Bigbury was diverse with opposing views at each end of the spectrum.
"The recommendation is to draw a line from the lifeguard hut steps to the beach allowing dogs to the west and no dogs to the east of the line.
"This will afford approximately a half and half split whilst allowing both groups to position themselves within the lifeguard patrolled area on the beach.”
Cllr Nicky Hopwood said she was disappointed that such a hard stance on dogs on beaches was being taken. She added: “It seems a little bit old fashioned to not open up beaches to dogs, as dogs are part of a family, so I just think it is a little bit sad.”
Cllr Keith Baldry said that not everyone was a responsible dog owner, while leader of the council, Cllr Judy Pearce, added: “We have a number of beaches where dogs are welcome so they can go to the ones they are permitted, and we have a good spread and a good mix and everyone ought to be happy.”
The new order will be discussed at a full council meeting on 25 March.
If approved, the new measure will last three years.
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