North Devon dog beach ban scrapped

But new anti-fouling measures approved

Measures to help address antisocial behaviour associated with dog waste and uncontrolled dogs across North Devon are set to be agreed, but a summer dog ban on beaches has been scrapped.

North Devon Council’s strategy and resources committee recommended to full council that a new district Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to address irresponsible dog ownership is implemented. The move follows a public consultation which received more than 3,000 responses.

The measures target dog owners who fail to pick up dog waste and allow their pets to run out of control whilst still providing open spaces where owners can freely exercise their dogs. Fines of £100 will be issued to rule-breakers if they council agrees to the measures.

But plans prohibiting dogs “off lead” on the Tarka Trail have been dropped from initial proposals, as has a ban on dog on beaches on Saunton Sands, Woolacombe Sands, Putsborough Sands, and Instow between Easter Day and September 30.

The PSPO includes the requirement for:

• people to pick up after their dog
• dog owners to place any out of control dog on a lead if requested
• dogs to be on a lead in a public cemetery
• dogs not to be present on any formal sports pitch or enclosed children’s play area
• dogs not to be present on Croyde or Combe Martin beaches between 1 May and 30 September
• dogs not to be present near any High Tide Roosting Sites between 1 October and 31 March
• dogs to be on a lead in certain locations in Braunton Burrows at certain times of year – as clarified by the landown

Officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices of £100 to people who breach the new controls, although people who have an assistance dog will be exempt. Andy Cole, environmental protection service lead, in his report to the meeting said that there was majority support for the controls in relation to controlling dog fouling,  dog control, the formal sports pitches, the Braunton Burrows special area of conservation and high tide resting sites, but majority opposition for the controls on the amenity beaches and the Tarka Trail.

He added: “Individual landowners who request controls to be introduced on their land will be required to install signage as per the finalised Council designs. A high profile communications exercise will be undertaken to promote responsible dog ownership and to ensure there is a high level of awareness of the controls amongst the community.”

Supporting the new controls, Cllr Netti Pearson, lead member for environment said: “Dogs can be wonderful companions and bring health and social benefits to their owners, the majority of whom are very responsible when it comes to their pets. It’s a shame that we need to consider any sort of control but there is a small minority in our district who persist with the antisocial behaviour associated with dog fouling and failure to control their dogs.

“These measures are designed to make shared spaces enjoyable for all and our approach takes into account the views from the consultation and should not have a negative impact upon the responsible majority of dog-owners; they are purely intended to help reduce problem behaviour by the minority for the benefit of the community.

The committee unanimously recommended that full council approve the measures identified when they meet later this month.Leader of the council, Cllr David Worden added: “We are not any dogs but are for enforcement against the small minority of dog owners who allow their dogs to go out of control. It is unfortunate that one or two letters have attacked personally members of this committee, and that is something I am not happy about.”