Park petition prompts further consultation from council
A PETITION that gathered more than 1,000 names to keep dogs on leads at Aberdare Park has led the council to launch another public consultation on the issue.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council announced the four-week consultation on Monday, which will include an online questionnaire as well as a public awareness event at the park later in the month.
It follows another large public consultation carried out by the council earlier this year before bringing in its new, stricter dog fouling rules, known as a public space protection order, called the Sort **IT Out! campaign.
The new rules include that dog owners must carry bags with them at all times and that dogs are banned from all play areas and council-owned sports pitches.
But they also mean overriding an old bylaw dating back to 1866 at Aberdare Park that requires dogs to be kept on leads at all times.
A petition with more than 1,000 names was handed into the council this month against dogs being allowed off leads at the park, and so the local authority has taken note of what it has called “unique circumstances”.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, deputy cabinet member for prosperity and wellbeing, said: “The council is introducing the PSPO to tackle irresponsible dog owners and ensure our parks, playgrounds, sports pitches, countryside and streets are cleaner and safer.
“It is action called for by residents in a consultation undertaken earlier this year.
“However, unique circumstances surround the history of Aberdare Park and its requirement that dogs are kept on leads.
“This goes back more than 150 years, and makes it different to any other park in the county borough.
“While the PSPO is enforcing widely-welcomed new rules about dog fouling, representations by Aberdare Park users to local elected members suggest that there is a strong feeling in favour of keeping Aberdare Park’s existing rule about dogs on leads.
Many users of the park are accustomed to it, and see it as a basic expectation of people enjoying the park.
“Due to this, and Aberdare Park’s unique history, the council will undertake a further consultation into this specific issue.” The consultation will take place for four weeks from August 14 until September 11, with the public engagement event taking place on August 16.
A report detailing the responses from the consultation will then be discussed by the council’ cabinet.