New council measures aimed at stopping dogs defecating on marked playing fields have come into effect from March 1.

Dogs are banned from marked sports pitches across Caerphilly County Borough as part of an updated Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) – which was approved by councillors in November last year.

Since October 2017, Caerphilly County Borough Council has said it has received more than 2,136 complaints about dog fouling, with 64 fines issued to owners.

Councillor Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Waste, Public Protection and Street Scene, said: “Our sports pitches play a vital role in the wellbeing of local people and it is only right that they should be enjoyed safely. Unfortunately, there were many situations where sports clubs and others had to clean up dog mess before they could commence a match.”

Prior to the measures being approved, a public consultation saw 53.5% of people agreeing with a ban.

Colin Wilks, Director of Risca Rugby Football Club praised the new rules and described it as a positive move that would “educate pet owners and to ensure the health and safety of all our players”.

Twelve-year-old Corey Cashman who plays rugby at Risca RFC said: “It is not nice to see dog mess on the pitch when I am playing with both friends and with the club, it stops us from being able to run and play freely for fear we could fall in it.”

Here is a full list of rules attached to the updated PSPO:

• Dogs are excluded from all enclosed children’s play and multi-use games areas.
• Dogs are required to be kept on leads in enclosed memorial gardens.
• Dog owners are required to remove dog faeces in public places.
• Dog owners are required to carry an appropriate receptacle for dealing with the waste that their dogs produce – that is to always have the means to pick up their dog faeces.
• Dog owners are required to put their dogs on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer on any public land where the dog is considered to be out of control or causing harm or distress to prevent a nuisance.
• Dogs are excluded from marked playing pitches/areas.

RSPCA against the new ban

After the new measures were approved last year, RSPCA Cymru had expressed its disappointment, saying the ban makes it harder for dog owners to meet their pets’ needs.

RSPCA Cymru’s public affairs adviser Billie-Jade Thomas said: “We have engaged with the local authority’s recent consultation process and called for such a blanket ban not to be introduced.

“Everyone should want to see dog fouling tackled – and responsible owners should be picking up their pet’s mess.

“However, dog walkers in Caerphilly must already carry an appropriate receptacle to clean up after their dog – and we don’t think blanket bans like this are the way to deal with people already breaking the law; nor fair for the vast majority of law-abiding dog owners in Caerphilly who may value some of these walking sports to exercise their beloved canine companions.”

The council has said the PSPO aims to promote responsible dog ownership that allows the public, especially children, access to dog-free or dog-controlled areas to make the county borough a safe and enjoyable place to live.

Cllr George, who represents Risca East, said responsible dog owners have a wide-range of open and green spaces available to them in the county borough.

Regular daily patrols of the parks will take place to help “educate and advise” residents of the new restrictions.

Any breaches of the PSPO can be reported on the council’s website.

New signage to enforce the rule in designated areas will cost £2,000. This will be funded from the council’s existing environmental health budgets.

The ban is year-round and not designated to particular sport seasons.