New rules to crack down on irresponsible dog owners in Sefton have been approved by the local council.
The rules, passed unanimously by Sefton Council on Thursday night (April 22), include £75 on-the-spot fines for owners not cleaning up their dog’s mess and ban dogs from sports pitches and enclosed playgrounds.
Although councillors were keen to stress that it was only the irresponsible minority of dog owners they were targeting with these measures, they also pointed out that dog fouling had become a major problem in the borough.
Cllr Clare Carragher said: “It seems to be the main complaint in our inboxes as councillors.”
She pointed out that the borough’s sports teams had had problems with dogs being allowed off their leads and disrupting games, adding: “Dogs can still have the freedom of a good walk or run while protecting our public spaces.”
Cllr Lynne Thompson also highlighted problems with dog fouling in the borough, saying she had visited one hot spot in her Ainsdale ward and counted 26 “incidents”.
However, both she and Cllr Tony Brough asked for a “grace period” to allow people to get used to the new rules, with enforcement officers trying to engage and explain the rules to people before issuing a fine.
Cllr Brough said this would avoid the risk that people would “unwittingly find themselves criminalised”.
The rules are covered by a new public space protection order (PSPO), replacing the one that expired last year.
As well as providing council officers with the power to fine people for not cleaning up after their dogs, the PSPO:
- Restricts the number of dogs that can be walked by one person to a maximum of six;
- Prohibits dogs from entering enclosed playgrounds;
- Prohibits dogs from entering marked or fenced sports pitches during specified periods (football or rugby pitches between September 1 and May 31 inclusive, cricket pitches between April 1 and September 30 inclusive);
- Requires dogs be kept on a lead of not more than 2m in length within defined picnic sites and family areas;
- Requires dogs be kept on a lead of not more than 2m in length within all designated carriageways (A and B roads) and adjoining footways and verges;
- Requires dogs be kept on a lead of not more than 2m in length in all cemeteries and crematoria;
- Requires dogs to be placed on a lead of not more than 2m in length when directed by an authorised officer to prevent a nuisance or behaviour likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to the public.
Cllr John Kelly confirmed that there would be “robust signage” setting out the rules and clearly showing the areas they applied to.
After the meeting, Peter Moore, Sefton Council’s head of highways and public protection, said: “The majority of dog owners across the borough already understand and do most of the things in the order anyway, so the reintroduction of these measures will have very little or no impact on them at all.
“What the order will do is continue to encourage greater responsible dog ownership and promote a cleaner and greener environment across Sefton’s parks, open spaces and neighbourhoods.
“We’ll be reviewing the existing signage at our parks, playgrounds and picnic areas to ensure that those who use our brilliant outdoors spaces to spend time with their four-legged friends are aware of their responsibilities.”
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