Bid to enforce dogs on leads in entire coastal village is refused
Cornwall Council refused as it could set a precedent for other areas
A request to have an order enforcing dogs on leads throughout an entire coastal village has been refused by Cornwall Council with concerns it could set a precedent for other areas.
A number of new locations in Cornwall will see dogs banned or restricted to being kept on leads – including part of one of the most popular beaches for taking the dog for a run.
Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for community safety and public health, Cllr Thalia Marrington, rubber-stamped a number of dog restrictions across Cornwall at a meeting on Wednesday October 14. However, one particular request was refused.
Langteglos-by-Fowey Parish Council asked for a dogs on leads order covering the village of Polruan, opposite Fowey, due to concerns of dog fouling, uncontrolled dogs running through narrow streets and safety concerns involving children and vehicles during busy periods.
Cllr Marrington said: “Although there was local support, concerns remained at the proportionality, enforceability and the precedent a village-wide restriction could create.”
The Individual Decision Day meeting, where cabinet members ratify decisions that would previously have been made in private, approved the October 15 renewal of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) for dog fouling, dog exclusions and dogs on leads with new locations added and removed.
A consultation received 36 responses, with 33 responses from town and parish councils, one response from a community interest group, one internal council response and one response from a landowner.
Cllr Marrington said: “Each request was assessed against the evidence, local need, proportionality, boundaries and a practical ability to enforce restriction.”
She said the proposed amendments included adding children’s play areas, recreation grounds and community facilities to the dog exclusion order, removing locations that are no longer public spaces or no longer requiring exclusion and adding locations to the dogs on leads order where greater control is considered appropriate.
“Many additions relate to enclosed play areas and recreation facilities recognising health and safety concerns about dogs in children’s play environments,” added Cllr Marrington.
A recommendation to have areas of Tehidy Park, near Camborne, included in the dog exclusion order was removed after Cllr Loveday Jenkin raised concerns about which paths and boundaries it covered.
The following areas will be added to the dog exclusion order
Fenced play ark at Wheal Fortune Park, Wheal Fortune Lane, Illogan
Recreation field, Trebarvah Road, Constantine
Recreation field and play area, Freathy
Priory Park (King George V) Playing Field, Tredydan Road, Launceston
Fenced play area at Grammars Park Launceston
Fenced play area at St Marys Road Lanstephan
Fenced play area at Kit Hill View park, Launceston
Fenced play area at Blackbird Crescent, Launceston
Fenced play area at Chestnut Drive, Launceston
Fenced play area at Queen Elizabeth Road, Launceston
Fenced play area at Enfield Park, Camelford
Pendour Play Park, Lostwithiel
Coulson Play Park, Lostwithiel
King George V play area and recreation field, Lostwithiel
Ponsanooth playing field, Ponsvale, Ponsanooth
Greenfield Gardens, Porthreath
Regatta Field, Charlestown
Thomas playing field, Summercourt
Indian Queens recreational ground
Fenced play area at Hanover Parc, Indian Queens
Penhale Green open space, Fraddon
Fenced play area at St James, Fraddon
Plan an Gwarry (Plain-An-Gwary), Market Street, St Just in Penwith
Recreation park (including play park and skate park), Carrallack Lane, St Just in
Penwith
Pendeen play park, Pendeen
St Just in Penwith Primary School playing fields
Fenced play area at Stithians playing field, Church Road, Stithians
The following areas are among those to be removed from the dog exclusion order
Ashburgh Parc play area, Saltash
Clover Walk play area, Saltash
Edmund Road, Redruth (enclosed play area only)
Greenfinch play area, Saltash
Hallett Close play area, Saltash
Highfield Park play area, Saltash
Milch Park play area, Saltash
Penrose Parc, Porthleven
Pondfield Road play area, Saltash
Rye Hill play area, Saltash
Snell Drive, Saltash
Sycamore Road play area, Saltash
Two Hills play area, Saltash
Wood Close play area, Saltash
Areas to be added to dogs on leads order for July/August
Morrab Gardens, Penzance
Perranporth beach – south end of main beach by the village
Peggys Patch, Guipavas Road, Callington
Strongmans Field, Indian Queens
Constantine Church Yard, Church Square
Meadowside Cemetery, Hendra Road, Stithians
Stithians Sports Field, Church Road, Stithians
Stithians Playing Field, Church Road Stithians
Enfield Park, Camelford