Plan to limit dogs at Chelmsford nation park authorised

Dogs off leads are to be banned from some sections of a rustic property in Essex below plans voted by means of by councillors.

The Liberal Democrat cupboard at Chelmsford City Council authorised a brand new public house safety order (PSPO) at Hylands Park within the metropolis.

However, the Conservative opposition mentioned it “criminalises canine walkers” and it could contest the choice.

Dog walkers seen breaching the order might be fined as much as £1,000.

Chelmsford council mentioned there have been 78 reviews of dog-on-human and dog-on-dog assaults within the 12 months ending 1 July – a year-on-year enhance of 36%.

“We should strike a steadiness between the wants and desires of each totally different group of park customers,” mentioned council cupboard member Rose Moore.

“We can’t ignore the worrying pattern of accelerating reviews of canine assaults, each nationally and in Chelmsford, and it could be irresponsible if the town council didn’t take motion to scale back the chance of it taking place extra typically.”

Under the PSPO, the council mentioned dogs could be allowed off the lead in any respect hours throughout 85% of the park’s 574 acres.

Dogs could be permitted off the lead in sure areas solely earlier than 09:00 and in some sections, corresponding to the journey playground, dogs could be banned always.

The Conservative opposition identified that almost all of the 231 responses to a four-week session opposed the PSPO.

“We could be criminalising canine walkers if they’re caught by the system which we consider is the incorrect factor to do,” mentioned chief of the opposition Roy Whitehead.

The cupboard authorised the plan on Tuesday, however Mr Whitehead mentioned the Tory group had already known as it in to be debated at a future overview and scrutiny committee.