Public consultation begins on dog control orders

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011 came into force in April 2012 and enables Council to devise dog control orders to replace existing Council byelaws for dogs.

Dog control orders can be made for five offences including; failing to remove dog faeces, not keeping and putting a dog on a lead in a designated area, not keeping a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer of council, permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded and taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land.

Kieran Doherty, Corporate Director of Environmental Services at Coleraine Borough Council said “The proposed dog control orders which Council are implementing include the following: The Dogs Exclusion Order proposes excluding dogs from playgrounds, managed playing fields, tennis courts, bowling greens, Ballyreagh golf course, MUGA’s, West Strand Beach, The Herring Pond, My Ladies bathing place, war memorials, The Rose Gardens, Coleraine, Lower Secret garden, Antrim Gardens, Portrush, Arcadia Gardens, Portrush and the Recreational Grounds Portrush at all times. Some beaches and bathing sites have exclusions from 1stMay to 30th September.

“The Dogs on Leads Coleraine Borough Council Order requires dogs to be kept on leads of not more than two meters in length on each and every length of footway and footpath, adjacent verges, roadway and all cliff paths. Other areas dogs must be kept on leads include; The Convent Walk, all Council owned cemeteries and burial grounds, Christie Park, Somerset Riverside Park, Andersons Park, Antrim Gardens upper, Portrush, Harbour Hill, Portstewart and in all Council owned caravan parks namely Carrickdhu and Juniper Hill.

“The Dogs on lead by direction Coleraine Borough Council Order enables authorised officers of Coleraine Borough Council to require that a person puts a dog on a lead of not more than two meters in length if requested to do so. However all Forestry Land is exempt. The Fouling of Land by Dogs Coleraine Borough Council Order would apply to all land in the open air to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access to within the Borough. All Forestry Land is exempt.”

With regards an Order concerning taking more than a specified number of dogs on to land, Council feel that the introduction of this order is not justified at present.

The public consultation will be open for 28 days. A full copy of the proposed dog control orders can be viewed on Coleraine Borough Council’s website, at Cloonavin offices, 66 Portstewart Road, Coleraine, Coleraine Town Hall, Portrush Town Hall, Portstewart Town Hall, Jim Watt Centre Garvagh, Peter Thompson Hall, Castlerock, Kilrea Town Hall and the Community Hall in Portballintrae. The proposals will be available for viewing during normal opening hours of these premises.

Coleraine Borough Council welcomes public views and opinions on the proposals. All representations should be submitted in writing before Friday 26thApril 2013 to The Environmental Services Department, Coleraine Borough Council, 66 Portstewart Road, Coleraine, BT52 1EY or e-mailed to [email protected].

Following this period of consultation, the Council will decide the final details of the dog control orders.

Full details are available on Council’s website at www.colerainebc.gov.uk