CONTROVERSIAL dog control orders will come into force in Weymouth and Portland next week.

The regulations require owners to keep their pets on leads in public gardens, cemeteries and allotments and ban them completely from children’s parks and sports grounds.

Anyone caught breaching the rules can be issued on-the-spot fines of £75.

If a person fails to pay the fixed penalty on time, refuses to provide their name and address to an authorised officer or is a persistent offender, court proceedings may be taken and they may receive a £1,000 fine.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council faced a backlash from local dog owners when it first discussed bringing the new rules into force last year.

Local owners say the current regulations have been scaled back but still fail to address some underlying issues.

Cindi McNeil, who runs Rushton Dog Rescue, said: “Banning dogs from playing fields I can go along with but banning them from areas like Nothe Gardens I don’t agree with.

“I don’t think these orders get to the root of the problem – which is that the wrong people have the wrong dogs.

“People are advertising Rottweiler Doberman cross puppies for around £100.

“In the wrong hands, they can be very dangerous, and we’re already having to take them back via the rescue centre.”

John Shewbridge, who opposed the orders when they were first mooted, said: “The initial measures were quite draconian but I’m fairly satisfied with what the council’s now bringing in.

“Some councils in the midlands have rules that ban dogs altogether from parks, so I’m happy with the effect our protests had in this area.

“However, I don’t think these rules will have much of an impact on irresponsible dog owners and I will be interested to see in a year’s time if this has reduced problems like fouling.

“The council will have to show more willingness to enforce the rules now.”

Cormac Linehan, who runs the Pet Experience, added: “A lot of these measures are perfectly sensible, such as banning dogs from children’s parks.

“I think the biggest problem, and the reason there was such a backlash, is that they target everyone who has a dog, rather than the few who are irresponsible.”

A council spokesman said the new orders were drawn up to replace ‘outdated government legislation’ and other bylaws.

The authority’s brief holder for community safety, Coun Ian James, said: “Dog control orders are being brought in successfully around the country and are in place to improve things for residents.

“The new orders are important to make it easier to bring accountability to people who allow dogs to foul or intimidate others.

“The orders in Weymouth and Portland were drawn up as a result of a consultation which was publicised in local media and open for all residents to take part in.

“Responsible dog owners are unlikely to be adversely affected by these new rules - the orders reflect what the general public, including many dog owners, wanted to see in their local area, and the new rules follow basic common sense; areas such as allotments, cemeteries and nature reserves require dogs to be on leads to protect the interests of others.”

The new rules

THE new rules apply at the cemeteries in Weymouth off Longcroft Road, Quibo Lane, Wyke Road and the main town crematorium as well as at Weston Road and Cadet Corner on Portland.

The rules apply at the Princess of Wales memorial gardens in Radipole Park Drive, Greenhill Gardens, St John’s Gardens in Westerhall, Nothe Gardens, Sandsfoot Gardens, Wyke Gardens and Easton Square Gardens.

The allotments at Rodwell Avenue, St Martins Road, Rylands Lane, Gypsy Lane, Pottery Lane, Barclay Road, Abbotsbury Road, Leamington Road, High Street and Grove Road are also affected as are Redlands sport grounds, Weymouth Rugby Club in Monmouth Avenue, The Marsh and Grove Road.

Also affected are the recreation grounds at Fairview Road, Lichfield and Ludlow Road and Ryemead Lane, the open space at Southill community centre, the RSPB reserves at Lodmoor and Radipole, Nothe Parade to Stone Pier and Cassiobury Road.

For a full list of guidelines, visit www.weymouth.gov.uk