MUCH stricter dog walking rules will no longer be introduced in many of the district’s parks following a climb down by councillors.
Warwick District Council had been considering updates to its Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) which would have required dogs to be on leads at all times in many of its parks and open spaces.
The proposals had suggested widespread increased restrictions in places including Leamington’s Victoria Park and Pump Room Gardens, parts of St Nicholas Park in Warwick, and Kenilworth’s Abbey Fields.
But when members of WDC’s licensing and regulation committee met on Tuesday (June 23) they were recommended to ditch the sweeping alternations in favour of more lenient measures.
Under the updated proposals, dogs will continue to be excluded from children’s play areas and sports courts, the racetrack at Warwick Racecourse and Warwickshire Crematorium in Oakley Wood.
They should also continue to be kept on leads across sports pitches when in use and in Jephson Gardens.
In Abbey Fields, dogs will be required to be put on leads in areas including the path linking the car park to the leisure centre, and between Finham Brook and the lake.
In Victoria Park, leads must be put on dogs in the skate park area, and in the spectators area at the bowling green.
And at Newbold Comyn, dogs are excluded within the learn to ride and skate park areas.
Councillors made these decisions after looking at more than 800 public consultation responses alongside evidence from a working group and police.
A petition entitled “Stop further unnecessary dog restrictions in Warwick district” also attracted over 1,600 signatures.
Dog owner Anna Avino, who slammed the original proposals as a “gross overreach” due to lack of evidence to support them, was happy to see commonsense had prevailed.
She continued:”The proposed changes to rules affecting dogs have now been amended to cover more sensible suggestions around children’s play areas and sports pitches, which no responsible dog owner, including myself, is likely to object to.
“However, I want to reiterate my strong concerns about the so-called public consultation. Consulting 880 people made up largely of parish and district councillors does not constitute public consultation, particularly when the recommendation was a draconian total ban of off-lead dog walking across the entire district.”
