- By James McCarthy
- BBC News
More than a 1,000 canine lovers turned as much as protest the plans
More than 1,000 folks turned up on Sunday for a mass canine walk to protest banning them from the seashore.
Conwy council desires to ban them on a stretch of sand between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea.
It mentioned it has had requests for a canine clampdown in three extra areas.
The different proposed locations are Penmachno Playing Field and from Rhos Point to the promenade entrance, reverse College Avenue, in Rhos on Sea.
Dog homeowners are up in arms over the plans.
Protest organiser Aaron Haggas, of Rhos On Sea, has a household of canine lovers and mentioned his six-year-old daughter has change into a “social butterfly” by means of her love of them.
Dogs, he believed, weren’t an issue on the seashore however disposable barbecues and bottles have been.
He mentioned: “I used to be shocked to listen to a couple of full ban on canine walkers. It looks like they’re saying, ‘We don’t need your canine, and we do not need you’.
“There’s no canine parks right here. We’ll should go to locations like Rhyl and Prestatyn, and that looks like encroaching on their territory.
Aaron Haggas, pictured together with his 11-year-old son Austin, organised the demonstration
“She likes to get off the leash and the seashore is the one place it’s protected to take action.”
Catherine Humphries agreed with fines for letting pets poo on the seashore, however she insisted solely a “tiny” minority didn’t clear up after their animals.
She mentioned: “Loads of vacationers come to Rhos with dogs. After Covid, when a number of folks acquired dogs, many locations grew to become canine pleasant.
“Banning dogs will massively affect this and fewer folks will come to Rhos.”
Banning canine walkers, she added, could be a foul for the surroundings as they must drive to go elsewhere.
She mentioned: “This is not what we ought to be doing in 2023. There are locations to walk a canine in Rhos, however the seashore is likely one of the solely locations you may allow them to off the leash and run round safely.”
Sophie Marks claimed businesses could be hit if canine walkers needed to go elsewhere.
Senedd member Darren Millar addressed canine lovers concerning the scenario
“Not solely that, but it surely’ll be an enormous exclusion to such a lot of folks,” she mentioned.
“They declare it is as a result of canine fouling, however why not police that facet extra? From my expertise I’ve by no means seen canine mess on the seashore.
“I’ve nonetheless seen plenty of litter, left over barbecues and cigarette butts.”
Conwy council mentioned: “We’re inviting responses to this session – no selections… have been taken.
“Once we have collated the outcomes the matter might be mentioned on the council’s financial system and place scrutiny committee, earlier than a call is made by cupboard.”
