Seasonal Dog Walking Too Complex For Local Council

Open the Newbiggin-by-the-sea website and the first thing you will see is a picture of the beautifully refurbished beach and a man at the water's edge walking his three dogs. Now, under a new Dog Control Order, Wansbeck District Council wants him and his dogs banned from the beach.. and not just during the summer season. To keep things simple Wansbeck Council wants all dogs banned for all time, because a seasonal ban would be just too complicated to enforce.

Despite conceding that a year-round ban would penalise responsible dog owners - and even after accepting a 1000 signature petition, the council will enforce the year-round ban on dogs from March 2008.

Dog owners caught on the beach after March will find themselves facing a £75 fine.

Most responsible dog owners recognise and accept that during the summer months, when families are picnicking and children are playing on the beach, dogs are unwelcome and can become a source of nuisance. But during the winter months many beaches are, for the most part, deserted and most intelligent Local Authorities are able to accommodate dogs on their beaches during this period.

So one has to question the capabilities of a Council that is unable to offer this facility nor allow its citizens to make the best use of a locally funded amenity - all year round.