Winter beach lead rule for dogs scrapped

Dogs have had to be kept on leads on Lyme Regis' main beach between October and April

Rules banning dogs from being off their leads on a beach in the winter are set to be lifted.

The restriction at Front Town Beach in Lyme Regis has been removed after a lack of support and few other places to walk pets off leads during the winter.

It is the only beach in the Dorset Council area where the winter ban, as part of dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), has been lifted.

The new rules have been set following a consultation which ran for 10 weeks, finishing on 25 August.

If the order is not challenged within six weeks it will start on 1 January and run for three years.

The rules include restrictions for dogs during the summer season, between 1 May and 30 September, on numerous beaches.

Dorset Council said: "The reason for implementing a dog-related PSPO on specific beaches, and open spaces, is to keep them free from dog fouling and safe to use by all.

"Insisting that dogs are on leads in particular areas means that the owner has adequate control over the dog, which means that they can see if the dog fouls and doesn't cause issues with other people or dogs."

Dog owners who ignore the rules face a £100 fixed penalty notice fine.