Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet have agreed to extend the existing tough measures to tackle dog fouling and promote responsible dog ownership across the County Borough.
SIX years ago, in October 2017, RCT Council was one of the first Local Authorities to introduce strict rules in terms of dog controls, when it put in place a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Since then, the Council has issued more than 1,000 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to irresponsible dog owners, for breaches of the Dog Control PSPO’s.
During August, residents were given the opportunity to take part in a six-week consultation process on whether the existing measures should be extended to continue to tackle dog fouling and ensure dogs are kept under control in public areas. The public response was once again overwhelmingly in favour of the measures – with 89% of respondents agreeing with each of the elements of the Dog Control PSPOs and that they should be continued over the next 3 years.
The PSPO will see the following rules continue to be enforced:
The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) allows Enforcement Officers to issue a £100 FPN for failure to adhere to any of the above.
A separate PSPO, for Aberdare Park only, was also introduced on October 1, 2017 and includes the extra control that dogs must be kept on leads at all times in Aberdare Park. The PSPO would have superseded an 1866 by-law for Aberdare Park, that already ensured that dogs have been kept on leads at all times. This long standing rule, and the unique historical circumstances of the by-law – will also now be extended for three years by a renewed PSPO.
View the Public Spaces Protection order 2017
County Borough Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure Services, said: “Our sports pitches and play areas are important spaces in our communities and are used by all ages throughout the day and evenings. The PSPO controls in place since 2017 have helped us keep those areas safe for everyone to use.
“I know that dog fouling is a key issue for residents which is why my Cabinet colleagues, and I are pleased that we have the publics’ support in the extension of the current PSPO for a further three years.
“With residents’ support, we can tackle the issue together by building on the success so far and ensuring that the minority of people who allow their dogs to foul or not be under control in public places are held to account.”
Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, added:“The PSPO has ensured that we have seen a marked reduction of dog mess across the County Borough, but the Council is still continuing to receive a small number of complaints around dog fouling on its streets and sports pitches, which is not only unsightly, but could lead to major health consequences and I would ask residents to please think and act to ensure that our streets and public areas remain dog waste free and that dogs are kept off our play areas and sport pitches.” .
The Council is asking residents to report any issues they are having with dog fouling online at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ReportDogFouling so that we can support them and work together for the safety of our community.
Find out where you currently can and can’t walk your dog in Rhondda Cynon Taf at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/walkmydog.
View the full Cabinet Report – https://rctcbc.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s42690/Report.pdf?LLL=0
