Public asked for views on new dog-free zones in north Wales county
Dog owners are being asked for their views on plans to introduce new restrictions and designated exercise areas at several public spaces in a north Wales county.
Conwy County Borough Council is urging the public to take part in a consultation on the control of dogs in public places.
The current Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is in place until October 2026, when the proposed new draft Order will come into force.
The current Order includes:
- Dog Exclusion Zones (e.g. beaches, playing fields)
- Dog Fouling and means to pick up
- Dogs on Leads
- Dogs on Leads when asked by an authorised officer
As part of its review of the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), the Council is considering three proposed changes.
These are the creation of designated dog exercise areas at Maesdu Road Recreation Ground and The Oval Recreation Ground in Llandudno; the permanent exclusion of dogs from Betws Yn Rhos Sports and Recreation Ground; and the designation of a section of the new dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea, fronting The Cayley Promenade, as a permanent dog exclusion zone.
The consultation will run until 11 September, and the Council is asking the public to submit their views on extending the Dog Control PSPO for the next three years, and including the three new additions.
Cllr Stephen Price, Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory and Audit said: “Dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership are issues that councillors hear about regularly from residents.
“These Dog Control Orders are intended to strike a fair balance, giving dog owners the freedom to enjoy public spaces with their pets while ensuring everyone can use those spaces safely and comfortably.
“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but these measures are aimed at tackling the small number who allow their dogs to foul, stray or be out of control in public places.
“I’d encourage everyone to get involved in the consultation and share their views.”
The Public Space Protection Order, the proposed changes, maps and response form are available to view on the council’s website here.
For those not online, paper copies of the consultation and response forms are available at Coed Pella offices in Colwyn Bay.
The results of the consultation will be presented to councillors in the autumn for the final decision.
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We always hear the same line ‘the vast majority of dog owners are responsible’. If so, how come dog poo can be seen on every street and in every park in Britain? I’ve seen owners pretend to look in their pockets for a bag when someone walks past and then leave the poo on the ground when passers by are out of view. Then you have the owners who use poo bags and throw them into trees so we get poo bag trees when the leaves fall in autumn!. The number of dogs needs to be seriously reduced, it’s gotten… Read more »
Thank you, Cynsn, for your wise words. This obsession with dogs has gone beyond ridiculous and is genuinely spoiling so many of the walks I used to enjoy. I can’t even take my little boy to the beach without having to watch where we step because of dog mess, or worrying about an uncontrolled dog running up to us off the lead. I’m completely fed up with it. They all say, “My dog is safe,” but I’m not prepared to take that risk with my small boy. It’s not about disliking dogs; it’s about responsible ownership and respecting other people.… Read more »
I totally agree. Dog owners seem to think that their needs should be prioritised. They seem to think everyone else will love their dogs . Reality check: many people object to dogs , particularly in cafes and restaurants. Dog ownership is of control. Councils shouldn’t have to beat the cost of clearing out dog poo bins. If they poo away from home it should be bagged and taken home.
I completely agree with you. I often wonder how those of us who aren’t dog-friendly can actually get together and make our voices heard. I don’t do social media myself, so I’m probably in the minority, but it’s genuinely refreshing to see there are still some sane people out there who feel the same way! It feels as though dog owners have become such a powerful voice that everyone else is expected to just accept dogs everywhere. I’d love to see more clearly designated dog-free restaurants, cafés, beaches and other public places, so that people who don’t want to be… Read more »
Maybe now is the time as the Government has reconvened its Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce, which is currently considering education, training, enforcement and better data.
Also, the RSPCA interestingly could be a vehicle for change as 78% of Welsh councillors surveyed by the RSPCA said irresponsible dog ownership was a problem in their area.
The number of dogs in the UK is around 11 million, up from 6 million in the year 2000. That puts considerable pressure on councils to clean up the mess. In my view if you choose to own a dog, you should register it, contribute towards the public costs that dog ownership creates, and face meaningful consequences if you allow it to cause a nuisance. I wish the goverment would find a back bone and tackle the issue. Even a registration fee of £100 when micro chipping a dog would help if the money was ring fenced. Also the fee… Read more »
Hi Cynan, sorry, I’ve only just seen your replies. This dog obsession really is becoming a real pain, isn’t it? Are you following the council’s fight against the dog owners who are protesting the proposed dog restrictions on the Colwyn Bay/Rhos-on-Sea beach? I wish I’d been armed with the statistics when I was commenting, because the increase in dog ownership is absolutely staggering. It must have increased by millions since 2020 alone, given how much it seems to have exploded since the pandemic. It would be interesting to see the latest figures. I really hope the council stands firm and… Read more »