Local residents will be able to air their views on Caerphilly County Borough Council’s proposals to ban dogs from marked sport pitches at a public meeting on Sunday, June 5.
Council proposals to impose a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) are currently up for consultation after their 2015 Household Survey showed that 40% of respondents were concerned over dog fouling.
The proposed PSPOs would introduce tighter dog controls, including banning dogs from all marked sports pitches, requiring dog owners to always carry a means to pick up their dog’s waste, and additional requirements for putting dogs on leads at all times in designated areas.
Opponents of the condition banning dogs from marked sport pitches say the proposal risks falling foul of the Animal Welfare (Wales) Act 2006 which requires owners to provide their dogs with appropriate daily access, including “regular opportunities to walk and run”.
The public meeting will be held at The Old Library, Caerphilly and will be chaired by Cllr James Pritchard, who represents Morgan Jones ward for Labour.
Cllr Pritchard said: “If you restrict dogs from large swathes of Morgan Jones Park then I’d be concerned that dogs won’t be getting the exercise they should be entitled to under the law. I also don’t think this part of the order will be enforceable and therefore should be withdrawn.”
Newly elected Caerphilly AM Hefin David will also be in attendance, and added: “The vast majority of the dog control consultation is welcome and not controversial. But enforcing this condition will create problems. I look forward to hearing from dog owners at the meeting.”
The public meeting with take place at The Old Library, Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, at 12pm on Sunday June 5.
The consultation can be found here: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=145649565605
Word on the streets is that this meeting will be well attended, but, will the old library be big enough to hold all these responsible dog owners?
This was indeed a very well attended meeting with standing room only.
This is testiment to the ability of Councillor James Pritchard, and his colleague Councillor Shane Cook, both representing residents in the towns Morgan Jones Ward, with the assistance of Assembly Member Hefin David, all of whom listened to comments from members of the public, and pledged thier support to ensure the fairness of the process being followed by officers of Caerphilly Council in respect to the Dog Restriction Orders.
It was a refreshing example of local Councillors consulting thier constituents on issues which effect them, it was also an opportunity for the public to consult thier Assembly Member on issues which concern them.
It was also refreshing to observe such open debate on other related issues at this meeting. More elected Councillors should take a leaf out of Councillor Pritchard and Councillor Cooks book during the Dog Restriction debate.