A campaign to reduce the number of “nuisance incidents” involving dogs has been extended.
Torridge District Council has voted to renew the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for another three years. Under the updated rules, dogs will be banned in some control zones, while in others they must be kept on a lead.
PSPOs were first introduced in north Devon in April 2022. Since then, the council said it has responded to 138 incidents involving dangerous dogs, 246 reports of dog fouling, 234 barking dog complaints and 117 stray dog incidents.
Councillors also agreed dogs should be kept on leads all year round in Victoria Park, Bideford and Westward Ho! Park, adjacent to Park View Terrace.
The same rules apply from 1 May to 30 September annually on Westward Ho! Promenade.
Dogs will also be banned from the designated Blue Flag area of Westward Ho! beach between 1 May and 30 September each year, and permanently excluded from the enclosed tennis and sports area in Westward Ho! Park.
Councillor Philip Hackett said: “The extension of the PSPO offers a pragmatic, proportionate and enforceable response to anti-social behaviours and nuisance issues associated with dog control in Torridge.
“The PSPO is a valuable tool that provides clear boundaries for dog owners, along with the deterrent of the fixed penalty or further legal action.
“For the majority of breaches, it also gives the council a relatively simple way to proceed where there is sufficient evidence that an offence has been committed in the restricted area.”
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