A LITTLE-KNOWN rule could land you with a hefty £1,000 fine this summer.
If you’re thinking about taking your dog for a seaside walk this summer, you might want to find somewhere else.
1
That’s because for a specific time period every year, many councils across the country don’t allow dogs on their beaches.
They’re allowed to do this under what’s known as “Public Spaces Protection Orders” (PSPO).
If you break this rule during the time then you could be hit with a fixed penalty notice from £100 up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
The bans are usually in place to keep kids safe and beaches clean from any dog mess.
Restrictions differ by council though so the best thing to do is to ask what the rules are where you live.
Between May 1 and September 30 many local councils ban dogs from beaches in their areas.
Popular beach destination Bournemouth for example, will fine dogwalkers up to £1,000 they wander onto one of its beaches during that time.
However, dogs are allowed between October and April 30.
Most read in Money
In Cornwall, beaches in and around St Ives are also not permitted during specific dates and times.
Carbis Bay, Porthmeor and Porthminster are off-limits between May 15 and September 30 during the hours of 10am to 6pm.
Enforcement officers working in the town will issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 for a breach of these restrictions.
Similar restrictions are in place in Seaford, where the maximum penalty is £500 if you walk your dog between May 1 and September 30
In Blackpool, dogs are banned over the summer from using the beach between the North Pier and the Mirror Ball opposite the Solaris Centre.
The protection orders can cover the entire beach or just certain sections and people are advised to check where exactly they can and can’t take their four-legged friends.
Here is a full list of beaches where you could be slapped with a fine for walking your dog.
Guide dogs are not affected by the restrictions.
You can also be fined under PSPOs for failing to keep your dog on a lead in certain areas and for walking too many dogs at a time.
If you are out with your dog, you could get a £100 fine if you don’t have a poo bag on you.
You can also be fined up to £500 for failing to micro-chip your dog.
To find out the specific rules in your area, check your council’s website before heading out for a walk this summer.
Can I appeal a dog walking fine?
There isn’t an official appeal route available if you’re issued with a fixed penalty notice as a result of breaking a PSPO.
But, you can make an informal challenge where you can say why you believe you shouldn’t have been given one – such as insufficient signage for example.
If the challenge is accepted the FPN will be withdrawn, but if it’s rejected you’ll have to pay it as there isn’t another avenue to a challenge.
If you still do not make payment, the matter will progress and a prosecution pursued.
This will be heard at the Magistrates Court where you will be able to plead not guilty and present your case to the Magistrates.
If the Magistrate accepts your not guilty plea, they will direct that the fine be quashed.
But, you risk paying up to £1,000 if it goes to court.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
