Cheshire West and Chester Council is consulting residents on proposals to tackle irresponsible dog owners and protect the welfare of users of play areas and other public recreation areas.
The Council plans to introduce a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order which could be enforced using Fixed Penalty Notices (fines).
The measures under consideration include:
- excluding dogs from children’s play areas and sports fields
- requiring dogs to be on a short lead at the request of an authorised officer or in sites such as cemeteries and the crematorium gardens
- requiring dog walkers to carry dog poo bags
- introducing a maximum number of dogs that can be walked by one person at any one time in a public area
- offering dog owners who don’t clear up after their dogs the option to have their dog DNA tested and registered on a DNA database, as an alternative to receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice
- requiring all dogs taken onto specific areas with a serious dog-fouling problem to be DNA tested at the owner’s expense
- inviting Town and Parish Councillors to become trained and authorised to issue Fixed Penalty Notices.
In addition to the dog control issues, the Council is considering prohibiting smoking from children’s play areas.
Give your views
The 12 week consultation period closes on 28 April 2018. There is a range of ways to express your views.
Please note that you need to be aged 16 or over to take part in this survey.
You can complete the survey online or by printing off the questionnaire and posting it back to Cheshire West & Chester Council. If you would like a paper questionnaire sending to you, then please contact them.
For links to the survey and other ways to take part, click here.
