Council to hear new measures for open spaces next week

New measures designed to encourage responsible dog ownership and stopping smoking in public areas will be considered at West Northamptonshire Council's Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

WNC is proposing a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Daventry and South Northants area under which dog owners could be fined £100 if they fail to:

• pick up their dog’s mess and dispose of it properly
• carry the means to pick up after their dog
• prevent their dog from entering public places from which dogs are excluded, such as play areas, schools and some leisure facilities
• keep their dog on a lead when required to do so, such as in cemeteries, car parks and outside schools on school days
• put their dog on a lead when asked to do so by an authorised officer

Other proposals include limiting the number of dogs that anyone can walk at one time to four, and prohibiting people from smoking in children’s play areas, skateparks, and certain other leisure settings.

Cllr David Smith, WNC's Cabinet Member for community safety and engagement and regulatory services said: "I would like to thank everyone who has had an interest in this matter and has taken the time to have their say and completed our survey. All views have been considered and taken into account.

"While the overwhelming majority of owners are caring and responsible, there are those who are not. We received more than 230 complaints about dog fouling and dog control issues last year alone, and we’re committed to and will tackle this problem."

The proposals had been helped to be shaped by members of local communities. Residents, businesses and organisations like schools, when they were invited for a six week consultation period to have their say on the proposals back in the spring.

The feedback provided will help to shape the final proposals and guide councillors in their decisions.

If agreed by Councillors, the PSPO will apply across both the Daventry and South areas of West Northamptonshire for three years until September 2025.