Public to be asked for their views on dog control order

Ribble Valley Borough Council has launched a consultation on whether controls on dogs in public spaces should be continued.

The council introduced a public spaces protection order, or PSPO, in 2017 in a bid to tackle the scourge of dog faeces in public and make the borough cleaner, safer and healthier.

The order, which makes it an offence to fail to pick up your dog poop in a public place; not be in possession of pet poop bags; let your dog off its lead in Clitheroe Cemetery; allow your dog to enter a playground or sports pitch; refuse to put your dog on a lead if asked by a dog warden; or be in charge of more than four dogs at once, means those failing to abide by the rules face a £100 fixed penalty notice or day in court and fine of up to £1,000.

However, the current PSPO is set to expire in October, leading to the council’s decision to launch an online survey to hear the views of residents, including dog owners, on whether it should be extended for another three years.

Mark Hindle, chairman of the council’s health and housing committee, said: “We want to hear from people about their thoughts on how the current order is working and whether it needs amending.

“Public spaces should be a safe environment for everyone to enjoy, and, in some cases, this means restricting where dogs can go and when they should be kept on leads. The majority of dog owners understand this and are responsible for their pets and their actions.

“The PSPO gives the council powers to act against a dog owner who doesn’t behave responsibly, for example, not picking up dog poo. Dog fouling is something that we all hate to see.

“Without the order, we would not be able to keep the borough clean, safe and healthy, tackle dog fouling and nuisance dog behaviour, or enforce the restrictions, so we want to hear from residents, including dog owners, on whether they want it to continue.”