Update: Bath and North East Somerset Council have postponed plans to introduce areas of Bath where dogs are banned.
Proposals by Bath and North East Somerset Council to try and tackle the amount of dog fouling around the city has been met with an fierce backlash by local residents.
In response to residents’ concerns, the council is putting forward proposals which will encourage more responsible dog ownership across the district and make open spaces more safe and pleasant for everyone to enjoy.
Fines for dog fouling will be going up from £50 to £75, in line with other councils, and more Council officers will be authorised to issue fixed penalty notices when they see someone allowing their dog to foul in a public place.
As part of the new, updated Dog Control Orders there will also be more areas where dogs will not be allowed (list can be found here), and also locations where leads must be used. These locations are online at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/dogs – where maps are available detailing the specific locations where the Orders are proposed to be enforced. In some cases, the locations are places like play parks and sports grounds which occupy a small part of the wider open space.
In 2011, reports to the Council’s Dog Warden Service about fouling increased by 127% from 211 to 480 compared to 2010. Specific requests for cleansing also went up by 10% in the same period. The Dog Wardens regularly attend Partnerships And Communities Together (PACT) meetings where dog fouling and control issues are regularly raised by members of the public attending.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said, “The statistics and feedback from the local community indicate that the public want Bath & North East Somerset Council to have greater powers to ensure that the minority of dog owners who cause a problem for the majority of the public and other dog owners are tackled. This means tougher fines for owners who allow their dog to foul in a public place.
“We are also putting forward suggestions for some specific locations where dog owners must use a lead and those places where dogs should not go. Many of these are common sense, such as school premises. We welcome feedback from the public about these proposals.”
Councillor Dixon will be holding a surgery about the issue with members of the Dog Control Team on Wednesday 1st February 10am – 12pm, Council Connect, The Hollies and Wednesday 8th February 11.30am – 1.30pm, Council Connect, Guildhall, Wednesday 22nd February, 3.30pm – 5pm, Council Connect Riverside.
The Council is now consulting on the Dog Control Orders, which would be introduced under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environmental Act 2005 and will replace all existing byelaws relating to dog control. Copies of the proposed orders and plans are available for inspection throughout the consultation period 26th January 2012 until 20th February 2012 during normal opening hours at the following locations:
Bath Street office, 9 – 10 Bath St, Bath.
Guildhall. High Street, Bath.
The Hollies, Midsomer Norton.
Riverside, Keynsham.