Arun urged to allow dogs on beaches overnight

Its secretary, Hilary Sykes, has told the council the club would like to see the ban on dogs on main beaches over the summer season partially lifted.

For many years, Arun has forbidden dogs and their owners to walk on beaches between May 1 and September 30.

But Mrs Sykes said the club, which has about 90 members, would like to see dogs being permitted in the areas between 9pm and 8.30am.

"Many people like to walk their dogs very late in the evening or in the early morning to avoid the heat.

"It is very unlikely that the beach areas would be crowded or even used during those hours," she explained.

She commented that the club was happy with the council's proposal to allow only dogs on leads in Hotham Park.

She went even further and called for Arun to ban the use of extending leads in the streets.

These leads gave very little control should a dog lunge at another dog or give chase.

If the lead was unlocked, she claimed, the dog could be hurt when pulled to an abrupt halt at the lead's full length or even run into a road.

She also said the club backed the council's intended ban on more than four dogs being walked by one person. However, she stated that she believed more than four dogs were manageable if they were properly trained and their handler competent.

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