New restrictions on walking dogs off leads

Dog walkers could face a fine for letting their pets off the lead in more of a city's green spaces under new rules.

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) on dog control have been voted in by members of Cambridge City Council to cover the nature reserves at Byron's Pool, Church End and Fulbourn Road.

The new restrictions will apply between 1 March and 31 July to protect wildlife and breeding birds.

A number of restrictions already in place across the city, some of which require dogs to be on leads at all times, have also been extended for a further three years.

The new rules were approved at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, where members were presented with a report that stated the proposals were to "ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public".

Current restrictions require dogs to be kept on leads at all times in Newmarket Road cemetery, Histon Road cemetery, an area by a pond and stream at Cherry Hinton Hall, the green area outside Hanover and Princess Courts, the park at Tenby Close and the Nightingale Community Garden, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

People are also not allowed to walk more than four dogs at a time at the local nature reserve at Byron's Pool, the Coldham's Common sports pitches or Hobson's Park.

The restrictions give enforcement officers powers to ask anyone in charge of a dog to put it on a lead if it is "out of control or a threat to other people or animals".

More than 800 people responded to a consultation on the new PSPO earlier this year, with most supporting dog control measures and some calling for more patrols, dog wardens or higher fines.

However, when it came to the proposals for nature reserves, some people surveyed were concerned about the loss of opportunities for dogs to be off the lead.

Last year 11 fixed penalty notices were issued to people found breaching the PSPO.

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