Conwy County Borough Council is considering making a section of the new dry ‘tideless’ beach fronting The Cayley Promenade a permanent dog exclusion zone – the area of the beach between the low water mark and promenade wall.
The previous order included:
- Colwyn Bay Beach – Dogs are not allowed to enter the area of Colwyn Bay beach between Colwyn Bay pier and Porth Eirias.
- Rhos Point, Rhos on Sea – the small sandy area of beach unwashed by the tide and
- Rhos Point to the Promenade Access Point in line with College Avenue in Rhos on Sea – the area of the beach between the low water mark and promenade wall.
The proposal forms part of a review of the council’s existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which controls the presence of dogs in certain public places across the county.
The following changes are being considered as part of the review:
- A dog exclusion zone on the area of beach fronting the Cayley Promenade, Rhos on Sea.
- A designated dog exercise area on the Oval, Llandudno
- A designated dog exercise area on Maesdu Road Recreation Ground, Llandudno
- A dog exclusion zone at Betws yn Rhos Sports and Recreation ground, Betws yn Rhos
A consultation on the PSPO will run until September 11.
The current rulings are in place until October, when the proposed new draft Order will come into force.
Cllr Stephen Price, Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory and Audit, said: “Dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership are issues that councillors hear about regularly from residents.
“These Dog Control Orders are intended to strike a fair balance, giving dog owners the freedom to enjoy public spaces with their pets while ensuring everyone can use those spaces safely and comfortably.
RELATED NEWS
“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but these measures are aimed at tackling the small number who allow their dogs to foul, stray or be out of control in public places.
“I’d encourage everyone to get involved in the consultation and share their views.”
The Dog Control PSPO 2023 is in place across Conwy to tackle issues relating to irresponsible dog ownership.
The Order was subject to public consultation, which showed strong public support for the proposals. It subsequently came into force, making it an offence to:
- Fail to remove dog faeces immediately.
- Fail to carry an appropriate means to pick up dog faeces.
- Permit a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded year-round.
- Permit a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded seasonally.
- Fail to keep a dog on a lead in a designated area.
- Fail to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.
Owners can be issued with a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (fine) if they commit any of these offences. The local authority want to extend the current above controls:
A spokesperson from Conwy County Borough Council said: “The introduction of the PSPO has helped us create safer and more welcoming outdoor spaces for dog owners and non dog owners and tackle dog fouling issues.
“Despite these improvements, dog fouling and other dog related issues remain a key cause for concern for communities across the county.
RELATED STORIES
“We are therefore proposing to extend the current Dog Control PSPO 2023 for 3 years to create the Dog Control PSPO 2026 so that we can continue to ensure and encourage responsible dog ownership in Conwy whilst supporting safe, clean and enjoyable public spaces for all our communities in a proportionate and effective manner.”
In the event of the PSPO not being extended, it will lapse, at which point there will be no legally enforceable restrictions on dogs in Conwy County.
The spokesperson added: “We consider it reasonable to assume that anti-social behaviour regarding dogs and their control in the restricted areas would reoccur and/or increase in frequency, and/or seriousness, if the Order is not extended.”
Dog lovers were up in arms in 2023 when plans were unveiled by the local authority to include the new dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea in a year-round dog exclusion zone.
The dry beach was included in the proposed exclusion because, unlike the main beach, it is not washed by the tide.
Thousands of dog owners staged walking protests in September and October 2023 over the proposals.
Placards held up during the protest included messages reading ‘Black Labs Matter’, ‘Down with this sort of thing’ and ‘Save Our Dog Beach Walks’.
The public consultation will run between August 14 and September 11 and can be accessed via this online form.
Responses will be considered and findings will be reported back to both Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet with a decision made to confirm the conditions of the PSPO 2026.
If approved the extended PSPO, including any changes, will be introduced later in 2026.