Cabinet approve county-wide PSPO for dogs in open spaces

Dorset Council’s Cabinet has approved the recommendations made to them in a report about a dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area.

The report was formed following an extensive consultation that  gathered views from residents, visitors, businesses and other organisations. The survey originally ran for 12 weeks and this was extended for another three weeks to ensure people who wanted to respond with paper copies were able to.

8,602 responses were received. 83% of responses were from local residents, with 15% from visitors and 2% other organisations. 64% of responses came from dog owners and 36% from non-dog owners. 6.6% of the respondents  considered they had a disability.

Among the recommendations which have been approved:

  • Harmonisation of the exclusion period on specific beaches. This received significant support with the highest level of support given to 1 May to 30 September (the shortest exclusion period).
  • Dogs will need to be on the leads in Public formal gardens, Council owned car parks, within 5m of marked sports pitches and in some specified locations.

The reason for implementing a dog related PSPO on specific beaches and open spaces is to keep them free from dog fouling and safe to use by residents and visitors.

Insisting that dogs are on leads in particular areas means that the owner has adequate control over the dog which means that they can see if the dog fouls and doesn’t cause issues with other people or dogs.

Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community  Services said:

“This has been an extensive consultation with a good cross section of people.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to implement the order according to the thoughts of most respondents.

“The harmonised exclusions on selected beaches across the council’s area is  a sensible compromise for dog owners and those who don’t have dogs.”

The report was initially reviewed by the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 21 September and their recommendations where approved by Cabinet today. It will be reviewed within three years.

To view the report, visit here.

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11 thoughts on “Cabinet approve county-wide PSPO for dogs in open spaces


  1. The link to the report doesn’t appear to be working. Please can this be directed to the correct location? Thank you.


  2. I would have liked to have read the report of what the Cabinet approved. Unfortunately the link does not take one to anywhere sensible. As one does not know what committee discussed the PSPO before it went to Cabinet, one cannot even attempt to track it back that way.

    You give an extract here of some of what was approved. But a working link to the entire PSPO is what I would like to see.


    1. I live right near the park and walk my dog regularly, but will now have to get in my car and drive to places to walk him. Most dogs need exercise off lead as it healthy for them. If your cleaning up Redcotts please also look at the drug paraphernalia which litters it


  3. Dogs excluded from Dorset beaches May 1st. to Sept.30th: a good proportion of families who holiday have dogs-they will think twice about holidaying in Dorset. July and August during the peak was bearable, but for 5 months?


  4. Policies are one thing, ENFORCEMENT is another.
    The general public think that dogs have priority!


  5. Cannot find the report and did not know views were being sort. Number of dog owners responding seems unrepresentative of their numbers in the population. Perhaps they will collected all the black poly bags left hanging on trees or simply thrown on the ground by their fellow dog owners.


  6. This is a terrible move and will cost these councillors their seats.
    We will not stand for it!

    Why should all dogs be punished for the bad behaviour of a small number of owners? Perhaps they should be enforcing the penalties for fowling rather than banning all dogs off leads. Whether the dog is leashed or not makes no difference to whether the owner picks up after them if the owner is not inclined to do so.

    What democratic mandate do the council have to impose this on us? No one has campaigned for this at an election, no referendum has been held and the consultation will contain a mix of views.

    This is terrible timing also with the country in a miserable state, our dogs have brought us pleasure and company through this awful period in our countries history and councillor Haynes seems to think now is the time to inhibit peoples use of public space.

    The conservatives are supposed to be the party of freedoms and liberty.
    Will make sure I vote tactically against Haynes at the next election and encourage all like minded residents to do the same..
    Haynes out – DOGS LIVES MATTER!


  7. There does not appear to be unanimous support of the Dog Exclusion policy. Can you explain why this has been added to the PSPO? This will only serve to alienate the majority of dog owners in Dorset. Why include something so contentious when you are looking for the support of the public for which you serve?

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