Still Time to Have Your Say on Public Space Dog Controls

Ribble Valley Borough Council introduced a public spaces protection order, or PSPO, in 2017 to tackle the scourge of dog poop in public and make the borough cleaner, safer and healthier.

The current order expires in October 2023 and the council wants to hear the views of residents, including dog owners, on whether it should be extended for another three years.

And an online survey has been launched until the end of July to give residents and dog owners the chance to voice their views.

The PSPO makes it an offence to:

• Fail to pick up your dog poop in a public place
• Not be in possession of pet poop bags
• Let your dog off its lead in Clitheroe Cemetery
• Allow your dog to enter a playground or sports pitch
• Refuse to put your dog on a lead if asked by a dog warden
• Be in charge of more than four dogs at once

And anyone breaching the order faces a £100 fixed penalty notice or day in court and fine of up to £1,000.

Stuart Hirst, chairman of the Ribble Valley Borough Council’s health and housing committee, said: “Public open spaces play an important role in the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors.

“We want everyone to enjoy themselves in public spaces and this means restricting where dogs can go and when they should be kept on leads.

“The council adopted an order in 2017, after receiving hundreds of complaints about dog fouling each year and spending thousands of pounds disposing of it.

“Without the order, we would not be able to keep the borough clean, safe and healthy, tackle dog fouling and nuisance dog behaviour, or enforce the restrictions, so we want to hear people on whether they want it to continue.

“We have had a good response to the survey so far, but there is still time for more residents, visitors and particularly dog owners to have their say on this important matter.”

The consultation runs until midnight on Monday, July 31, and anyone aged 16 or over can take part.

It is available at ribblevalley.gov.uk, in person at the Council Offices in Church Walk, Clitheroe, or by phoning Ribble Valley Borough Council on 01200 425111.

• If you would like to help shape local services, why not join the new Ribble Valley People’s Panel? You will be invited to take part in online surveys on important issues and your feedback will inform council decisions. People aged under 45 and especially between 16 and 24 are particularly welcome to join. Further information is available at ribblevallery.gov.uk, or Ribble Valley Borough Council on 01200 425111.