Kettering Council set to enforce new dog control measures

Dog walkers in Kettering may face a fixed penalty notice if they fail to abide by new measures which look set to be approved by councillors

Kettering Council currently has three dog control orders which it wants to replace with a new PSPO, along with three new laws.

The new rules would prohibit dogs from enclosed play areas, ban people from walking more than six dogs at any time, and mean dogs must be on leads in designated areas.

The areas include: the Manor House Gardens, Garden of Rest, Parish Churchyard, Jubilee Gardens, Market Place and Municipal Gardens.

The order would continue existing rules making it an offence not to clean up dog faeces, mean dogs must be kept on leads in cemeteries and mean dogs must be put on leads if requested by an officer.

The proposal was considered at the council’s research and development committee last month, whose members agreed to consider the areas where dogs must be kept on leads after complaints from dog walkers who felt it was an unneccessary restraint.

But the council’s executive committee look set to approve all six orders under the PSPO banner at a meeting on Wednesday (November 16).

The measures would not apply to assistance/guide dogs, with offences punishable by a fine.

The council has seen a previous incident of a member of staff being bitten by a dog.

An earlier public consultation about the orders saw a positive reaction with every order supported by between 64 and 99 per cent of those who responded.

A paper prepared for the meeting reads: “The introduction of these new controls enable dog fouling and other forms of irresponsible dog ownership to be better managed.

“This will have a beneficial impact on the protection and enhancement of the local environment.”

If approved, appropriate signage will need to be erected advising of the new measures.

This is likely to cost between £2,000 and £3,000.

The meeting takes place at 6.30pm at the council chamber on Wednesday, November 16.