Rules which could cost dog walkers up to £1,000 if broken are being extended. There are already rules in force across Manchester and breaking them could result in on-the-spot fines of £100 and a maximum penalty of £1,000 in court.
But councillors claim most canine keepers are not even aware of these rules. Since July 2019, there have been five public space protection orders (PSPOs) relating to dog control in public open spaces across the city of Manchester.
This includes failing to pick up dog poo in a public place or not having anything to pick it up with, taking more than four pooches onto a public space and failing to put a hound on a lead when instructed to by an authorised officer. Letting a dog off a lead on all roads, footpaths and alleyways in the city or in specific parks, gardens and picnic areas is also prohibited under the order.
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There are also certain areas where mutts are specifically excluded from entering – and breaching this could land the owner with a £100 fine too. Anyone who fails to pay the fine could then end up in court and face the threat of having to pay a penalty of up to £1,000 if they are convicted by magistrates.
Around 100 fines were issued in the last three years with four prosecuted. All of these prosecutions were related to letting a dog off a lead with one also accused of failing to pick up faeces, costing the offenders a total of £1,872.
Manchester council is now planning to extend the existing dog control PSPOs. The move will also see cemeteries and crematoria removed from the list of areas where dogs are not allowed to enter – but they will have to be on leads.
Rules for specific parks, which vary across the city, have also been updated. But councillors on the communities and equalities scrutiny committee said that many dog walkers are not aware of the rules and asked for clearer signs.
Chorlton Park councillor Dave Rawlson said people will probably continue to let dogs off their leads on football fields as they see it as a big open space. He said: "Most dog walkers will not be aware that for several years now, they have been breaking this regulation.
"So please, we've got to review that and make sure that signage is up. Otherwise we don't have a leg to stand up when people say there is no signage."
Brooklands councillor Glynn Evans said he was not aware of some of the rules himself and questioned whether signs at Wythenshawe Park are sufficient. Manchester council officers said there are signs at each entry of a park and where there are specific restrictions excluding dogs such as play areas.
However, they agreed to review all of the signs relating to these rules. The decision to extend and vary the PSPOs was approved by the Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods on July 26 and the new PSPOs are now in effect.
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