Renewed measures to try to reduce dog fouling and ensure pets are kept under control in the district’s parks, open areas – and especially near play areas – have been agreed.
The 2025 Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved by cabinet members last night (16 July) and the measures will come into effect from Friday 1 August 2025.
They will replace those in a previous PSPO and follow a public consultation that received more than 200 responses.
Half of the responses objected to a proposal that dogs should be on leads when being walked at The Stadium playing fields in Cheriton. Folkestone & Hythe District Council had initially been asked to include this measure following reports of dog fouling not being removed from the sports pitches.
Cabinet members agreed to withdraw this suggestion from the new PSPO, but supported others including lifting the seasonal dog ban on Greatstone beach and extending areas in the Lower Leas Coastal Park where dogs should be on leads.
Leader Cllr Jim Martin said: “I would like to thank all those who took time to respond to the public consultation. The changes proposed to the former 2022 PSPO came because of complaints received from residents, businesses and visitors.
“Although views were divided about some areas, there were more comments this year about the risk of aggressive and uncontrolled dogs than when the council introduced the previous PSPO.
“It is down to all dog owners and those walking dogs that pets must be under control at all times and that fouling is removed and put in a bin.”
The new order will be published on the council’s website before 1 August. The content of warning signs will be changed where necessary and steps taken to ensure the signs are visible.