Cornwall Council Community Protection Team are asking for the community to give their views by completing the online questionnaire regarding the proposal for keeping all existing restrictions in place for dogs on beaches.
The survey runs until 12 January 2017 and can be completed online at www.cornwall.gov.uk/dogsonbeaches
Many people enjoy walking on Cornwall’s beautiful beaches but not everyone likes or enjoys dogs.
Dogs are restricted on some beaches at certain times of the year; the legislation that controls and restricts dogs from public spaces has been changed by the Government and Cornwall Council has to decide how to apply the new rules on beaches in Cornwall. The existing legislation, called Dog Control Orders, has changed to Public Spaces Protection Orders which are known as PSPOs. In introducing the new PSPOs, that restrict dogs from beaches at specific times, has given them the opportunity to review the existing restrictions.
More information about the dogs on beaches proposals, Dog Control Orders and PSPOs, is available on their website and in local libraries, information services and one stops shops, including:
List of beaches and current restrictions
Maps of the areas affected
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about PSPOs
Leaflet about dog controls on beaches and PSPOs
There are to many restrictions on Cornwall beachs
When Councils are given the opportunity under ‘health and safety’ to ‘review’ present legislation we need to be worried. The term ‘harmonisation’ of beach legislation is being bandied about. I do not believe this means having more freedom of some beaches because of tight restrictions on others. It will mean control of dogs by all being on leads or being banned totally, particularly in the Summer. What do legislators think happen to dogs in the Summer? Dogs need to run, swim, be active. Control needs to be centred on dog training and owner training. There are places where lead control may be necessary but do not underestimate the determination of legislators to make life easy for themselves and difficult for dog owners. Dog owners walk the beaches all year, pick up litter, any dog droppings left usually by tourists and generally keep their eyes open, for example for distressed wildlife.