Powers to tackle problems caused by irresponsible dog owners up for consultation

Lancaster City Council is inviting people to have their say on the council’s current powers to tackle problems caused by irresponsible dog owners.

In November 2012, a number of dog control orders came into force under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.  The orders enabled the council to deal with issues such as dog fouling on our streets as well as dogs out of control which can cause road traffic accidents, nuisance and aggression.

In October 2017 these Dog Control Orders became known as Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) under the requirements of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

This meant that the provisions of the Dog Control Orders, as with other PSPOs, would be effective for a period of three years and then would need to be reviewed.

There are four types of dog control which the council introduced and is now looking to renew:

• cleaning up after a dog on all land throughout the district which has public access (except Forestry Commission land)
• keeping a dog on a lead on highways, car parks, cemeteries and graveyards and designated parks and gardens 
• putting a dog on a lead when directed by a person authorised by the council.  This would apply throughout the district and be used at events such as sports events on public playing fields 
• excluding dogs from designated areas, including a number of beaches during summer months, enclosed children’s play areas and enclosed sports pitches

The review covers the existing areas covered by the current PSPOs. It should be noted that at this time, the council is not proposing to require dogs to be kept on leads at Williamson Park.

The council is able to deal with all offences by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices, which carry a penalty of £100, or by prosecution through the Magistrates Court, where the maximum fine is £1,000.  

Councillor Alistair Sinclair, Cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, health and wellbeing, said:  “Keeping our district clean and safe is everyone’s responsibility and the minority of irresponsible dog owners refusing to clean up or take control of their dogs spoils it for everyone else.

“This is your opportunity to have your say on the ways in which problems relating to dogs are being tackled by the council especially in places we all have an equal right to enjoy in peace.”

If you would like to comment on the orders under review, please visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/pspo to view the documents and complete the online questionnaire.

If you do not have internet access, paper copies can be made available by calling council’s Environmental Health Department on 01524 582733.

If you would prefer to have a short discussion about any issues concerning this consultation process, you can call the council or email environmentalhealth@lancaster.gov.uk to make arrangements for an officer to call you back at a suitable time to discuss your views.

Any comments must be made by Friday, August 21 2020 via the online questionnaire, by sending an email to environmentalhealth@lancaster.gov.uk or in writing to:-

PSPO (Dogs) Consultation
Public Protection
Morecambe Town Hall
Marine Road
MORECAMBE
LA4 5AF

Last updated: 20 July 2020