Folkestone & Hythe District Council has approved renewed measures aimed at reducing dog fouling and ensuring pets are kept under control in the district’s parks and open areas, with particular emphasis on locations near play areas.
The 2025 Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) received cabinet approval last night, July 16, and will officially come into effect on Friday, August 1, 2025. These new regulations will supersede a previous PSPO and are a result of a public consultation that garnered over 200 responses.
One of the proposals, which suggested dogs be kept on leads at The Stadium playing fields in Cheriton, faced significant opposition, with half of the consultation responses objecting to it. This particular measure was initially considered due to reports of dog fouling on the sports pitches. However, cabinet members ultimately decided to withdraw this suggestion from the new PSPO.
Despite this, other proposed measures were supported, including lifting the seasonal dog ban on Greatstone beach and expanding the areas within the Lower Leas Coastal Park where dogs are required to be on leads.
Leader Cllr Jim Martin said:
“I would like to thank all those who took time to respond to the public consultation. The changes proposed to the former 2022 PSPO came because of complaints received from residents, businesses and visitors.
“Although views were divided about some areas, there were more comments this year about the risk of aggressive and uncontrolled dogs than when the council introduced the previous PSPO.
“It is down to all dog owners and those walking dogs that pets must be under control at all times and that fouling is removed and put in a bin.”
The new order will be published on the council’s website before 1 August. The content of warning signs will be changed where necessary and steps taken to ensure the signs are visible.