Sport-pitch dog ban set for the bin
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to ban dogs from marked sports pitches in Cardiff looks set to be dropped.
The proposal would have seen dogs banned from Cardiff councilowned sports pitches in the city.
But it is now “very unlikely” to go ahead following a city-wide campaign to drop the plans which saw a petition of more than 16,000 signatures and hundreds of people taking part in a march through the city on Sunday.
The proposal was being considered as part of a new public spaces protection order against antisocial dog walkers. Cardiff council said it will now consult further with dog walkers and sports clubs to come up with new plans.
A formal decision will be taken in the new year, but Councillor Peter Bradbury, the authority’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, said he is “highly unlikely” to propose a blanket ban for dogs on marked sports pitches following the results of a consultation which closed on Monday.
Dog owners who let their pets foul in public areas in Cardiff would have faced spot fines of £100 under the public space protection order proposed by the council.
This was an increase from the £80 fixed-penalty notices currently in place – which could have risen to £1,000 if offenders were taken through the courts.
The proposals will be further considered by Cardiff council’s cabinet in January.
Councillor Bradbury said: “There has been such a groundswell of opinion that it’s highly unlikely we would be able to proceed on that basis.”