Hastings council approves Dog Control and Anti-Social Behaviour Public Space Protection Orders

At a meeting yesterday (Monday, May 15) Hastings borough councillors on the authority’s cabinet committee unanimously agreed the proposed amendments to the draft Dog Control and Anti-Social Behaviour PSPOs, following a four-week public consultation.

But the proposals have attracted opposition since they were first announced earlier this year.

The dog walking community said the council was ‘ignoring’ pet owners’ views, as they said the orders further limit the time dogs are allowed off the lead all year round in parks in Hastings and St Leonards.

Mike Hepworth, the council’s assistant director for environment, said: “Although we already had dog control orders and byelaws, the changes in legislation imposed upon us meant that we needed to introduce the Dog Control PSPO by this October.

“The serious problems we have been experiencing with the street community meant that we also needed to develop a PSPO to help tackle anti-social behaviour, and drug and alcohol nuisance affecting the town.

“But, this is good news for Hastings. We want every visitor and resident to make the most of public areas in the town, and these PSPOs will go a long way to address some of the issues we currently have.

“We’ve had some really encouraging and useful feedback from residents, the police and other organisations, which has meant that we have been able to make amendments to the original proposals.

“This includes amalgamating areas to make the anti-social behaviour restrictions simpler to understand and comply with.

“But also reducing the dogs on leads restrictions, such as at Linton and St Leonards Gardens where the time period for dogs to be on leads from April till October has been reduced to 9am to 5pm, and during the winter will only be from 10am until 4pm at weekends, with no week day restrictions.”

The orders will take effect from June 12, in accordance with regulations published by the Secretary of State and the council’s enforcement officer and wardens will focus on anti-social behaviour, littering and dog fouling.

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