Have your say on dog ban at county beauty spot

THE Bradgate Park Trust has launched a consultation over whether to extend an order for dog owners to keep their pets on a lead, to the whole year.

The order would take in both Bradgate and Swithland Wood.

At the moment the trust’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), is a seasonal restriction (from Good Friday, or April 1, whichever is sooner) to October 31.

The protection order was originally introduced following a series of dog attacks on deer at the park.

At the moment, during the winter months, the trust simply requests that people keep their dogs on a lead, but it says that has led to confusion.

A spokesperson said that the order would aim to protect Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood, and ensure all visitors have a pleasurable experience when visiting the two popular sites with dogs.

The spokesperson said: “This would see an extension of the seasonal ‘dogs on a lead zone’, with it being formalised to an all year requirement, making the regime clearer for visitors.

“Although many visitors have complied with our request to keep dogs on leads during the winter, having a different legal basis for the restriction at different times of the year is confusing. “Park visitors, resi- dents and groups, which may be affected are being asked for their views on whether or not the PSPO should be varied to extend the requirement to put dogs on a lead in the yellow zone on Bradgate Park all year round.”

Peter Tyldesley, director of the Bradgate Park Trust said: “We recognise that the majority of dog owners are responsible, ensuring that their pet does not cause a nuisance or disturb wildlife, the small number of irresponsible dog owners who do not do so continue to cause problems.

“We have received excellent feedback from visitors regarding the scheme since it came into effect in 2016.”

Rangers and authorised officers can currently issue on-the-spot fines of £100, to people in charge of dogs who are breaching the agreed prohibitions.

The consultation runs from May 8 until June 8.

To take part online go to https:// www.bradgatepark.org/advice-fordog-owners

Paper forms are also available from the Visitor Centre and Tearooms at the Park or can be requested by post.