Mixed response to new rules for dogs on beaches

CHANGES to restrictions for when dogs can be taken on to Cornwall’s beaches have received a mixed response following their first season.

Cornwall Council has a number of public space protection orders (PSPOs) in place which limit when dogs can be taken on some of the beaches in Cornwall.

This year, with the orders having to be renewed, the council introduced new restrictions which extended the time that dogs could be exercised on beaches.

It meant that on those beaches without Blue Flag or Seaside Award status the restrictions operated from July 1 to August 31 between 10am and 6pm. Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches have restrictions from May 15 to September 30 from 10am to 6pm.

When the changes were introduced councillors asked for a review to be carried out at the end of the season and the responses are due to be reported to a meeting of the neighbourhood overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday.

The report states: “The response to the new restrictions has been mixed. Officers and the portfolio holder for environment and public protection have received emails directly from the public, Cornwall councillors and town and parish councils as well as Visit Cornwall.”

It states that there were 252 service requests, complaints and enquiries in 2020 – up from 234 last year. Of those 47 related to dog fouling on beaches. The beaches with the most complaints in 2020 were Polzeath (38); Gyllyngvase (25); Porthtowan (16); Porthminster (14); Porth (13) and St Ives (12).

Dog welfare and enforcement officers carried out 344 patrols of dog restricted beaches during the summer – a big increase on last year when just 71 patrols were done.

The report to the scrutiny committee said five fixed penalty notices were issued for dogs restricted beaches – three for dogs on Polzeath Beach and two for dogs on Porth Beach in Newquay. However the council says that it has taken an approach of “engage, educate, encourage and enforce” when finding breaches.

Surveys were also sent to town and parish councils for their views on the new restrictions – 10 said they strongly agreed with the restrictions; 12 said they tended to agree; six neither agreed or disagreed; six tended to disagree and eight strongly disagreed.

The survey found that 47% of councils felt that dog fouling on beaches was an issue and 56% felt that current signage was not adequate.

Feedback from the public included 17 emails from people hoping for greater restrictions, eight saying they were happy with the new restrictions, 10 from people asking for more relaxation on Porth beach in Newquay and three emails requesting better signage.