Walking a dog throwing a ball or stick for them to fetch on a patch of grass is something many dog owners do without a second thought but with new Westmorland and Furness Council Public Space protection order changes it could be about to become a thing of the past.
A consultation presented as a crackdown on fly-camping in the South Lakes contains a major change slipped in by the council for dog owners in Penrith and across Eden with a proposed ban on walking dogs off-lead within 200 metres most local roads.
Westmorland and Furness Council is asking for residents views on a proposal that if approved by the council would ban people walking dogs off the lead within 200 metres of many road, pavements and yards in Penrith and the wider Eden area.
The planned change to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) would apply to roads with a speed limit of 40mph or less, covering not just pavements and verges but also fields, footpaths and woodland edges within the 200-metre zone.
The restriction would apply to all publicly accessible land in the former Eden Distrcit council area.
If adopted, anyone allowing a dog off the lead in these areas could face a Fixed Penalty Notice or a fine of up to £1,000 from the council.
Coronation Gardens, Portland Place, Penrith, is also proposed to be added to the list of dog exclusion zones where no dogs are permitted at all.
The consultation that would introduce the new ban on walking dogs off the lead forms a short section inside a wider consultation on additional PSPO measures to curb fly camping that covers parts of the South Lakeland area but introduces no measures to ban fly camping and the issues around Ullswater or other part of the local area that have recently seen a rise in the number of fly camping incidents and littering that has seen the Cumbria Police Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen call for Westmorland and Furness to introduce a PSPO for the part of the Lake District National park covered by the council.
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said:
“We are committed to working with partners to balance public access and enjoyment with the need to protect our natural environment and ensure respectful behaviour. Amending the PSPOs is one way we can support that, and we are now asking our communities to help shape those changes.”
Feedback can be shared to Westmorland and Furness Council until Tuesday 9 September by completing the expansion of Westmorland and Furness Public Space Protection Order online survey or a paper copy found at reception of Voreda House in Penrith.
Before commenting on the changes, the council has said "people are encouraged to view the Council's current PSPOs and new maps detailing the proposed amendments on the Westmorland and Furness Council website".
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