Dog walkers are hit with beach and cemetery fines
Three dog walkers have been fined a total of £2,245 after two breached exclusion zones on Sunderland beaches and a third walked her dog with no lead through a cemetery.
Sunderland City Council brought the prosecutions after two dog walkers breached exclusion zones on Seaburn beach and a third walked her dog through Bishopwearmouth Cemetery without a lead.
South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how all three breaches had been witnessed by council Neighbourhood Enforcement Wardens and all three Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 for the offences and warning letters that they could face court action were ignored.
An area of Seaburn Beach prohibits dogs between May 1 and September 30 with warning signs displayed at entry and exit points. But Shannon Co well of Rocket Way, Newcastle, allowed her do gina prohibited area on May 24,2021, and Anthony McGowan of Kenton Lane, Newcastle, also allowed his dog in the banned area on Seaburn Beach on June 23 2021.
Both were fined £660 and ordered to pay £235 in court costs.
Between May 1 and September 3 this year ,61 dog walkers received penalty charges for breaching the beach zones.
A third dog walker, Corr i ne
Calvert of Holylake Square, Sunderland, failed to have a dog on a lead in a prohibited designated area in Bishop wear mouth Cemetery on June 5,2021 and was fined £220 and £235 in costs.
All three defendants failed to appear at court and the cases were found proven in their absence.
Cllr Claire Rowntree, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "The exclusion zone at Seaburn is there to help keep it dog free, clean and safe for families and children to use over the summer months.
"It has always been a very simple task that dog walkers take note of the signs and keep their dogs off certain limited stretch es of beach during these busier summer months. There are similar signs in our parks and cemeteries.
"Dog walkers should be aware that if they do breach the rules, there are penalties and these can be bigger penalties if matters are taken to the courts."