COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON DOG ORDERS

Carmarthenshire Councillors have made recommendations to strengthen policies to tackle dog fouling and dogs off leads in public places.

The council’s Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee met yesterday to discuss proposals on dog orders.

After a lengthy debate, the committee made the following recommendations, which will now go to the Executive Board for a final decision before going out for formal consultation:

• A county wide order requiring people to clean up after their dogs on all public land within the county
• An order excluding dogs from enclosed children’s play areas
• An order for dogs to be kept on leads at all times on all sports pitches, parks and playgrounds
• An order for dogs to be kept on leads at all times on all public highways
• A county wide order requiring people to place their dog on a lead by direction of no more than 2m in length when directed to do so by authorised officer (including local authority officers, police officers and/or Police Community Support Officers)

Scrutiny Committee Chairman Cllr Peter Cooper said: “Members were concerned about the playing fields situation, not only in the winter when they are used for football and rugby matches but in the summer when children play on them. The recommendation to keep dogs on leads in all parks is to tackle the issue of fouling on pitches.

“Members supported banning dogs from enclosed play areas. We will look again at the issue of beaches as some people are objecting to putting a ban on dogs on beaches. It is important that dogs are kept on leads on public highways.

“This is something we can look at again and review in 12 months time.”

The Executive Board will now consider the proposals made by the Scrutiny Committee. Members of the public will be able to have their say again as part of the formal consultation process.