Bid to enforce dogs on leads in entire coastal village is refused
New dog restrictions have been approved at play areas, parks and part of Perranporth beach
A request to make dogs stay on leads across a whole Cornish coastal village has been refused over concerns it could set a precedent for other areas.
The request covered the village of Polruan, opposite Fowey.
It came from Langteglos-by-Fowey Parish Council, which cited dog fouling, uncontrolled dogs running through narrow streets, and safety concerns involving children and vehicles during busy periods.
Cornwall Council's cabinet member for community safety and public health, Cllr Thalia Marrington, refused it at a meeting on Wednesday 14th October.
She said: "Although there was local support, concerns remained at the proportionality, enforceability and the precedent a village-wide restriction could create."
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.
How the decision was made
Cllr Marrington approved the renewal of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) for dog fouling, dog exclusions and dogs on leads, with locations added and removed.
The decision was made at an Individual Decision Day meeting, where cabinet members ratify decisions that would previously have been made in private.
The renewal is dated 15th October.
A consultation received 36 responses.
Of those, 33 came from town and parish councils, one from a community interest group, one from within the council and one 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 changes included adding children's play areas, recreation grounds and community facilities to the dog exclusion order.
They also included removing locations that are no longer public spaces or no longer need exclusion, and adding locations to the dogs on leads order where greater control is considered appropriate.
She added: "Many additions relate to enclosed play areas and recreation facilities recognising health and safety concerns about dogs in children's play environments."
A recommendation to include areas of Tehidy Park, near Camborne, in the dog exclusion order was removed.
That followed concerns raised by Cllr Loveday Jenkin about which paths and boundaries it covered.
Areas added to the dog exclusion order
- Fenced play area 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
Areas among those 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 added to the dogs on leads order for July and 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