Hundreds are hit by dog penalties
NEW rules and restrictions on dog owners in Sefton have led to hundreds of people being ordered to pay penalty fines.
Sefton Council last year introduced rules which add a range of limitations to dog walkers, including banning their pets from enclosed play areas and requiring them to be kept on leads in areas such as roads, footpaths, cemeteries and picnic areas.
They also banned dogs from marked sports pitches during certain time periods and limit the number that can be walked by one person.
Traffic light-style signs have been installed in parks and green spaces to let people know which areas are designated as either off-lead, on-lead or no-dog zones.
Failure to comply with the order can result in a fixed penalty notice of £75, reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.
The rules were granted under a public space protection order (PSPO) issued by the council, in conjunction with Green Sefton, with ‘help from local residents and dog lovers’.
But some of those caught out by enforcement officers, who are employed by contracted firm NSL, have criticised their treatment, as well as accusing the council’s new rules of punishing the wrong people and the wrong offences.
The rules were introduced in July 2017 – but many dog walkers say they’ve not been enforced until much more recently – and figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request suggest this is true.
Between July 14 and December 31 2017, just five fines were issued.
However in 2018, 102 fines were issued; and in the first five months of this year alone 161 were issued – more than one per day.
Of the 273 fines issued between July 2017 and May 31 this year, 176 have been paid; meaning the council has received around £9,000 so far.
A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “The public space protection order (PSPO) was created in 2017 following extensive consultation and engagement with residents, community groups and organisations from across the borough.
“We actively encourage responsible dog ownership and the public consultation looked at this in great detail.
“At the time, residents had the opportunity to give views and feedback on what they would like to see the local authority do regarding dog control in Sefton.
“Part of the feedback we received detailed the issues sports teams face on Sefton pitches and the unpleasantness of encountering contaminated playing conditions.
“As a result seasonal restrictions on marked pitches were brought in as part of the wider PSPO in order to address these issues and was widely welcomed by football, rugby and cricket league officials.”
Here are the laws that all dog owners in Sefton should now be aware of:
The council will continue with punishment for not picking up dog mess.
The number of dogs that can be walked by one person is now a maximum of six.
Dogs will now be: Banned from entering enclosed playgrounds.
Banned from entering marked or fenced sports pitches at specified periods.
They must be kept on the lead:
Within picnic sites and family areas.
Within all public roads and foot ways.
Within public cemeteries and crematoria.
When required by an authorised officer, to prevent nuisance or behaviour which is likely to cause public annoyance or disturbance.
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