Council seeks views on proposals to tackle irresponsible dog owners in the borough | |
1 February 2018Residents are being invited to have their say on Cheshire West and Chester Council’s proposals to tackle irresponsible dog owners.The Council recognises that the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and keep their dogs under control while they are out. For animal welfare reasons it is also beneficial for dog owners to be able to exercise their dogs off lead in open spaces. However, if they are not properly supervised and kept under control, dogs that are allowed off a lead in public areas can cause nuisance or even injury to members of the public, or other animals, and may cause road traffic accidents. A public consultation on proposals for a Public Space Protection Order which includes various dog control measures will begin today (Thursday 1 February). The proposals aim to strike a balance, recognising that most people are responsible dog owners, while making provision for controls where they may be necessary. The consultation will ask for views on a range of proposals which could be enforced using Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN). They include:
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Karen Shore said: “We know that problems caused by irresponsible dog owners are felt within communities across our borough and we are committed to tackling these issues. “There have been many changes and improvements to our borough’s parks and play areas since original Dog Control Orders and Byelaws were introduced, including new ones been created that are not covered. We have many examples where the landscape has changed and old legislation is no longer practically enforceable. “Our proposals will help keep our children and residents safe in their communities where there could be problems with dog fouling or irresponsible dog ownership. I hope as many residents as possible give their views.” There are a variety of ways to give your views and the consultation will close on 28 April 2018:
The outcome of the public consultation will be considered by Cabinet in autumn 2018. | |