Arun moves ahead with dog control order for pet owners

Arun District Council has formally published its intention to limit individuals having large groups of dogs in public.

The proposed change is among a series of dog control measures which the council wants to include in a new dog order to replace its existing bylaws.

Todaymarks the start of six weeks of public consultation about the proposals. Comments received will be debated by councillors before any final decisions are made.

Cllr Paul Wotherspoon, who is in charge of the council's environmental policies, said: "The new order aims to balance the needs of dog owners with the health and safety of other residents, while also taking into account the need to protect our natural environment.

"The recommendations, which also take into consideration the views of parish councils, have not been made lightly.

"Anyone who has a particular view about the proposals should let us know before the consultation ends on April 9."

When the Observer publicised the council's intention last year, dog owners were angered by the intended limitation on how many of their pets could be walked.

Approval for the new order to come into force was given by Arun's members at a council meeting last Wednesday.

The main changes set out in the new order include banning dogs from the fenced conservation area and boating lake in the newly-restored Hotham Park and requiring dogs to be on a lead elsewhere in the park.

Many of the details stay the same from the old bylaws. They include banning dogs from the main Bognor beach between May 1 and September each year.

Maps which show the areas referred to in the proposals can be viewed free of charge at The Civic Centre in Littlehampton between 8.45am and 5.15pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8.45am to 4.45am on Fridays during the consultation.

Comments about the proposed order should be made by email to: [email protected] or in writing to: Dog Controls Consultation, The Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton BN17 5LF.

More details can be seen on the www.arun.gov.uk/dogs website.

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