Have your say on new dog rules

A working group of councillors has been considering the introduction of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) for dog control and other potential sources of anti-social behaviour, under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The PSPOs differ from the existing dogs on leads and dog exclusion bye-laws as they will allow for the issuing of a fixed penalty notice to the value of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within seven days.

Among recommendations from the working group which have been considered by members of the council’s operational management committee are borough-wide PSPOs which require dogs to be kept on leads on all public highways at all times; require the removal of dog faeces at all times; exclude dogs from all children’s play areas; limit the number of dogs under the control of one person to a maximum of four and require dogs to be kept on leads and exclude dogs at various locations.

There are also proposals to reduce the level of the existing restriction on Lytham Green and remove the restrictions completely in some areas.

All the proposals will go to a six-week public consultation to be launched in the coming weeks, the results of which will be In the meantime, members of the public can find further details at the Fylde Council website The Committee instructed officers to undertake a six-week public consultation as required by the legislation.

The consultation will be launched in the coming weeks and will be widely advertised when available. Please use the official consultation to express your views on the proposed PSPO and provide feedback. The results of the consultation will then be reported back to the operational management committee.

Council officials stress that no decisions have been made yet and we are keen for as many people as possible to get involved in the consultation when launched.

Coun David Eaves, chairman of the operational management committee, said: “Fylde Council is the only district council on the Fylde coast that does not have Public Space Protection Orders in place.

“Various issues have been brought to members’ attention regarding comments on dog control. A cross party working group was set up for councillors to consider, and a comprehensive consultation will take place in the very near future lasting for six weeks.

“All members of the public are invited to voice their comments and opinions within the consultation, and these will all be take into consideration once the consultation period is live. A full report will later be presented to the full council.”