Councillors to review dog control orders for Warwick district parks next week
Warwick district councillors will next week consider proposals over new public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) – which include controversial dog control orders.
PSPOs apply to specified public spaces across the district, including Newbold Comyn, Victoria Park and Jephson Gardens in Leamington, Abbey Fields in Kenilworth, St Nicholas Park in Warwick and cemeteries and are intended to help address behaviours that have a detrimental effect on the use and enjoyment of those spaces.
PSPOs cover areas including responsible dog ownership – such as keeping dogs on leads at all times and dog exclusion zones – as well as tackling anti-social behaviour including harassment, restrictions on riding bicycles, e-scooters, or e-bikes in a dangerous or intimidating manner and giving community safety officers the authority to order individuals, who are causing harassment or disorder, to leave a specific location for up to 24 hours
The current set of orders expire in October and the new and amended set of orders, to be discussed by Warwick District Council’s licensing and regulatory committee at Leamington Town Hall on Tuesday June 23, would be in place from then until around the same time in 2029.
Before publishing the proposals, the district council ran two consultations – the first with ‘key stakeholders’ including Warwickshire Police, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and town and parish councils, for six weeks between June and July 2024.
A wider public consultation ran from January to March 2025.
Under the proposals, a requirement for dogs to be put on leads when walkers are asked to do so by an authorised community safety officer will remain in place across the district.
The new set of orders would also include the removal of the dogs on leads order along the length of the public footpath as it crosses Newbold Comyn’s golf course as it no longer exists.
Dog exclusion zones would be added to the comyn’s ‘learn to ride’ area and its skate park.
In Victoria Park, dogs would be required to be kept on leads in the bowling green surrounds/spectators’ area.
A dog exclusion zone will be added to the skatepark while another exclusion zone will be amended to specifically refer to the bowling green playing area.
In Abbey Fields, dogs on leads orders will be added to the car park off Bridge Street, along the primary path linking the carpark to the leisure centre, the feeding platform by the lake and along the southern side of the lake between the lake and the Finham Brook, extending from the feeding platform towards Castle Road.
Despite the documents for the review of the PSPOs only having been made public on Monday (June 15), a petition was launched against the proposed new dog control orders more than a week ago.
The petition says: “Over the years, Warwick District Council has steadily increased restrictions on dogs across the district.
"We now face even stricter rules that require dogs to be on leads in all of Leamington and Warwick's parks.
"These proposed measures are unnecessary, unsupported by evidence, and would significantly reduce the inclusive use of public spaces by responsible dog owners."
To view the petition visit https://tinyurl.com/yvm2xcsa
To view the documents for the forthcoming meeting, which provide details including maps for the PSPOs review, visit https://tinyurl.com/5ejzzvmd