New laws tighten leash on dogs in The Carrs

Cheshire East Cabinet has decided to introduce dog control orders for The Carrs.

Following a public consultation, which finished on June 21st, thirty-four responses were received, of these a majority of twenty-six were opposed to the making of the dog control orders in the town park.

Cllr Rod Menlove, Cabinet Member for Environment, considered these responses at a meeting on Monday, July 23rd, and decided that orders would be introduced.

These will make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog, without reasonable excuse, to fail to pick up after the dog and for one person to be in charge of more than four dogs in The Carrs.

The Fouling of Land by Dogs was approved to allow Community Wardens to continue to enforce in relation to dog fouling. The Dogs (Specified Maximum) order was approved in light of concerns raised to the Council, from both individuals and from Friends of the Carrs, about the use of the site to walk multiple dogs by commercial dog walkers.

An order was also approved making it an offence for dogs not to be kept on leads in the area of the park located adjacent to Chancel Lane and north of the River Bollin, which includes both the playing fields and children's play area.

It will also be an offence for a dog owner not to put and keep a dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer of the Council. This area would cover the whole of the park, with the exception of the area covered by the Dogs on Leads order.

The Dogs on Leads order was approved because it was considered a proportionate and necessary step to impose an order of this nature given this area of land includes children's play areas, playing fields and picnic tables.

The Dogs on Leads by Direction Order was approved since there have been complaints about the behaviour of some dogs using the site and the control exercised by their owners.

The cost of advertising these orders via a statutory notice in the local newspaper, estimated to be in the region of £800, was approved and the fixed penalty of £75 was agreed for breach of an order.

Please note these decisions could be called in before the expiry date of July 30th. If any councillors do not agree with the Cabinet decision they can call it in to be scrutinised by one of the scrutiny committees.

What do you think dogs about the new laws for dogs in The Carrs? Please share your thoughts via the comment box below.