The city council is seeking feedback from the public on its proposals to renew the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dog control in the district for another three years.
The PSPO for dog control, which was introduced in 2021, sets out the standards of behaviour that all dog owners must follow when they are in public spaces with their dogs.
The PSPO allows the council to take enforcement action against the few owners who do not comply with the rules, such as issuing a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or taking them to court.
Cllr Connie Nolan, cabinet member for enforcement, said: “The PSPO aims to tackle specific issues caused by dogs in public spaces, such as dog fouling in parks or dogs entering children’s play areas.
“We do not want to unfairly restrict dog owners from responsibly exercising their dogs across the district. We fully appreciate the benefits that owning a dog brings.
“As always, our goal is to achieve a balanced approach, and to make sure the PSPO is based on actual evidence and meets the needs of our residents.
“Your responses in this consultation will help us reach the best outcome.”
You can find the consultation on the council’s website.
It includes the current schedules of the dog control order and the new proposals, which include adding maps to show the specific locations where the rules apply and removing some locations that are no longer suitable.
The council will also hold public consultation events, where you can hear a presentation from council officers and ask them questions about the proposals.
The events will take place as follows:
- Wednesday 11 October, 5pm to 7pm at South Quay Shed, Whitstable Harbour, Whitstable
- Wednesday 18 October, 5pm to 7pm at Herne Bay Baptist Church, High Street, Herne Bay
- Wednesday 1 November, 5pm to 7pm at Tower House, Westgate Gardens, Canterbury
The consultation will close on Monday 6 November.