New rules for dog owners in Sefton will be set out today (Wednesday 4 November).
They include making it an offence not to clean up after their pets and banning them from entering playgrounds, and from running on sports pitches during certain times.
They follow thousands of complaints in recent years in Sefton over dog fouling, aggressive dogs and stray dogs.
Those caught breaking the rules would face fines of up to £75.
Councillors are meeting today to vote on the new Public Space Protection Order – Dog Control (PSPO).
The original rules were made in 2017 but need to be renewed now, with a couple of changes set to be made with a number of original rules carried on, following public consultation. A total of 568 people were issued with the Fixed Penalty Notices by Sefton Council over the last three years.
The 8 existing rules due to be carried over are:
1 – Offence of not removing dog’s fouling forthwith
2 – Restrict the number of dogs that can be walked by one person to a maximum of 6.
3 – Prohibit dogs from entering enclosed playgrounds
4 – Prohibit dogs from entering marked or fenced sports pitches during specified periods.
5 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within defined picnic sites and family areas
6 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within all public roads and footways
7 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within all cemeteries and crematoria
8- Dogs to be placed on a lead when directed by an authorised officer to prevent a nuisance or behaviour likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to the public
There will be one new rule introduced, which will mean that dogs must now be kept on leads within unfenced (open) playgrounds
However, two requirements / restrictions are not included within the proposed PSPO
1 – Dogs to be kept on leads within a golf course
2 – Dogs to be kept on a lead on the beach
A £75 fixed penalty notice (£50 if paid within 10 days) can be issued if dog owners fail to comply with the requirements / restrictions within the Order.
Public space protection orders can be made by councils where activities take place that have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, such as dog fouling.
A consultation took place in March, which was interrupted by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and was continued in September and October. 1,186 responses were received.
The new proposals have been back by Merseyside Police, with Superintendent Graeme Robson of Sefton Community Policing provided the following saying: “From a police perspective we recognise the impact that dogs can cause if they are not looked after responsibly and they to cause concern to people so having some restrictions that can be publicised and enforced not only gives us the opportunity to take action against people who breach the order but also give the public some reassurance about what we are doing to protect them. We continue to support the proposed PSPO.”
Freedom for Dogs – Sefton, a group seeking to oppose the re-introduction of the PSPO, is opposing the new rules, claiming the order is unnecessary and heavy handed.
They said: “When laws already exist to promote and manage responsible dog ownership, is the PSPO a sledgehammer to crack a nut?”
During the consultation a significant number of people identified that signage used during the initial PSPO was not good enough.
Sefton Council said a review of signage would be necessary, with new signs due to cost £10,000.
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