People are being asked for their opinions as Brighton and Hove City Council reviews its “public space protection orders”.
The council has to consult on its existing public space protection orders every three years which restrict dogs from certain public spaces and ban people from drinking alcohol in public places.
Since 2011, all dogs – excluding guide dogs, hearing dogs and disabled support dogs – have been banned from certain public beaches from May to September, some parks and all cemeteries except for funerals.
The beaches are
- between Longridge Avenue and the border
- between Chailey Avenue and Arundel Drive West in Rottingdean
- between West Marina Wall to Rottingdean slope
- between the west wall of Brighton Marina and up to the Volk’s railway station opposite New Steine
- in front and to the east of the Meeting Place Café up to the large groyne with the life ring on
- to the east of the Lawns Café at the bottom of St John’s Road in Hove
- the beach in front of the King Alfred car park
- the beach to the east of Hove Lagoon
The parks and green spaces are the enclosed gardens of
- Brunswick Square
- Norfolk Square
- Russell Square
- Bedford Square
- Clarence Square
- Powis Square
- Pelham Square
- Regency Square (north end)
- New Steine Square
- Steine Memorial Gardens
- Kipling Gardens in Rottingdean
- The Rockery Gardens in Preston Road
- William Clarke Park in Picton Street
- Saunders Park (excluding the fenced dog area to the south west corner of the park) in Lewes Road
- The southern lawns of Queen’s Park (containing the lake), the tennis courts, the Quiet Garden, the Wild Garden, the cascade area and bowling green
Since 2009, dogs must be kept on leads in all parts of Brighton and Hove and the person in charge of the dog at the time must clean up any faeces.
The consultation also asks for people’s views on alcohol consumption in public spaces which is banned across Brighton and Hove.
The consultation opened on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website on Friday 11 August and closes on Sunday 3 September.
The huge increase in dog ownership means it is more important to have dog free spaces. I am allergic to dog hair and find it difficult now to fine a cafe where I can drink a coffee without a dog or 3 in it. I know which spaces round me should be dog free, please don’t take them away. (P.s. dogs are often in these spaces anyway and many run round the prom unhindered by leads). If anything I would like to see more enforcement of the current rules).
Many cafes and pubs welcome dogs as they bring people in – with a quarter to a third of households owning one it’s a big market. However some decide no pet dogs – including big chains like Weatherspoons. All should welcome assistance dogs (so as not to discriminate against their owners)
This is private land access and isn’t part of the council’s remit and rules. They are looking at beaches, parks, roads etc – public land.
I agree that there should be more enforcement (after proper signposting so that it doesn’t catch those who are unaware). The idea of PSPOs is to stop the activity, not to be a council revenue stream!
Cafes and spaces without dogs are good. Not everyone likes dogs. I don’t. Sometimes noisy, barking, smelly, shouldn’t be in shops. Some also snappy, intimidating. Certainly shouldn’t be in work spaces like we have at work. People use work as a cheap dog sitting opportunity… and yes I’m also allegic to the mutts
I have a human rite to walk my dog on the beach Brighton is full of dog lovers!!!!! And when I do walk on the beach it’s early no one around apart from locals, Brighton is NOT London so stop trying to change this once great place!!! Get a dog warden who can fine people who don’t clean up after their dogs and leave us responsible dog owners alone. Humans are the main problem on beach!!
“rite”?
Is that some sort of ritual?
Can it. Not everyone loves your animal’s wee and mess all over the beach. All rite?!
Totally agree Boredofit
Oh and human faeces and urines not a problem then
Shame your not allergic to kids like me…
They are everywhere… And we non breeders are expected to just put up with it! …
Were are the no kid beaches, cafes, parks…
Seriuosly, if you actually think your skin is clear of bateria, and you dont smell bad to a dog with all your perfumes etc…
Its all just going to far…
Its all about behavour.
Humans behave…
Or yours…
Beaches are full of all kinds of poo… All kinds of animals .. live there …
Animals were here before, and long after we have gone ..
Humans just need to get over there selfs finally…
Unfortunately walking your dog is not a human right.
We are responsible for owners who never let our terrier off the lead, but the number of owners who think it’s fine to let theirs run around unchecked. We’ve had random dogs running up to us when out with our 2 year old grandson, a very scary experience
I have no objection to responsible owners keeping their dogs on leads and ensuring they clean up their poo properly
I have children and don’t want to be bothered by dogs. Surely children are more important than dogs . There are far too many dogs in Brighton . People use all the green spaces as dog toilets and don’t give a crap about the restrictions. I don’t feel I can let my kids play in any of these areas.
Dog owners are inconsiderate.
Its not just the dogs doing their business on the grass etc thanks to the council, we have hardly any public toilets so adults and kids are turning to seeing etc on the grass/pavements 🙁
I have a kid and a dog…I personally prefer the dog lol
I really don’t want to bothered by other peoples kids. Should be on a lead, mess should be cleared up and there should be child free areas in parks and beaches.
Well said Nicholas+Wilson
People who don’t like dogs if never trust plus if your allergic just have an antihistamine problem solved
I can’t imagine it will go well if BHCC attempted to stop dogs playing on the beach. Brighton has a particular history with dogs, and our local greyhound rescue is a point of pride. The nation loves our animals, so make sure you respond to this consultation stating as such.
One sunny day at the beach, I took my new born baby to see the sea for the first time. An out of control dog charged towards us and urinated on our pram. The owner apologised and ran off while I was left looking for my now wetter wet wipes. Some dog owners are just lazy scum with questionable hygiene and should be banned. To be clear the fault in this incident is the owner not the dog. The council are very weak on enforcement in brighton.
As a child I was sitting on selsey beach enjoying the view of the sea. I turned around to see a jack russel running to its owner. It had just urinated over my jacket! Funny? Not really.
If all dog walkers picked up their dog’s poo there wouldn’t be an issue. Most infuriating when people don’t pick it up – and worse when people do pick it up and then leave the plastic bags full of poo on the beach/pavement/lawns/etc! Their argument is, ‘oh, the bags are biodegradable’. Disgusting.
Everywhere in Australia you have dog friendly beaches. Should also be introduced in Brighton as the area is full of irresponsible dog owners. Mainly lockdown dogs owners who allow their dog to wee and shit wherever they please, should be trained to do their business in designated areas, not on pavements or public areas, regardless if the faeces is picked up. Some owners are fully aware their dog should be on a lead; it is such self entitlement to purposely ignore the rules.
I’ve trained my dog to go on grass – and wait for that. However, I’ve found that he is now using the pavement much more (which I clear up). The reason (obvious when I worked it out!) is that areas of the pavement have become so overgrown with weeds and grass that they look like grass to him!
We’re promised that overgrowing pavements should be gone next summer. Let’s hope so!
Not everything is about weeds, Nick.
Dog owners are a law unto themselves.
Saltdean beach is an example. The no dogs on the beach etc in the sumner is ignored by many. No one polices it. If you point it out to someone, you are met with an aggressive tone and told to mind your own business
Also ,and this may come as a shock to some, not everyone loves dogs.
I dont hate dogs but Im not keen on some of the owners.
As for the person who said it was his human “rite” to walk his dog on the beach, well I rest my case
“Dog owners are a law unto themselves”. There’s a sweeping generalisation. All dog owners behave badly apparently. Really?
Well, if around a third of households have a dog that means there will be a huge mix of characters. Some will behave badly, others never do a thing wrong. Take any group (drivers, cyclists, teachers, TV presenters etc and you will always find bad apples)
And you know that most dog poo is picked up
Interesting that you just picked up on one typo from these comments. Not another from someone raising concerns about dogs. I rest my case!
Rest your case? Some dog owners are scum. I rest my rite!
Seems, not surprisingly, if you try and comment in any way complaining about poor dog owners, it will not get published here.
Typical.
Just letting you know your comment is actually published here. One of many which bad mouth dog owners.
Looks to me like the council are not suggesting any changes, just looking to continue the current rules for the next 3 years. When you read the rules, many haven’t changed for more than a decade.
My view is they are a good balance. However, they are not well implemented. Where dogs are allowed and not, which months, are not always properly signed. And council staff try to enforce this and fine people despite the correct signs not being present. People who want and don’t want dogs get upset by uncertainty about the rules. The current signs also don’t include those excluded from the rules – including assistance dogs for disabled people. They are allowed in areas which say “no dogs”. However, the signs don’t say “except assistance dogs” and neither does the council website for the beach. The detail in PSPO does say this – but all the summaries that people can view online and on signs don’t. Yet another legacy from the greens and lack of thinking about needs of disabled groups?
And yes, the council is aware. I’ve fed this back over the last couple of years a few times. But no change, yet! Hopefully others will also do this as part of the consultation – as well as complain to councillors if they are banned/harassed from beaches/parks with assistance dogs
There are a tiny number of fines for dog fouling each year – but this is a problem. One made worse by the outgoing green council’s decision to remove dog poo bins from remote areas and resite others. So dog owners have to carry dog poo not for 5 or 10 minutes but for half an hour or an hour. And some, not surprisingly, don’t do the right thing. After all, if you make something much harder, then some won’t do it. So perhaps the incoming Labour Council can reverse this error and put the dog poo bins back (and ideally add more). They are a very simple piece of technology that works.
One of the odd claims from the green council was that they couldn’t get electric vehicles to empty dog poo bins away from the road and this was needed by 2030. Well, 2030 is still 7 years away, other vehicles can be used after then and electric off-road vehicles can be bought now. Indeed B&H council owns at least one!
People who need guide dogs don’t tend to read signs.
Jokes aside, people who let their dogs off the lead on crowded beaches are amongst the most annoying people in the city. We should have a nice park with good facilities and very tall fences for dogs to run around in, and have all dogs on leads elsewhere. I’ll take the smell of dope or the sound of loud music over marauding dogs any time. At least there’s a chance I might like what’s on the radio. Other people’s dogs are always aggravating.
The number of dogs who actually come back when they’re called in this city is probably in single digits. It’s impossible to have a picnic or even a decent length walk without having someone’s dog right up in your personal space. Plus, for every merely-annoying terrier there’s some pitbull variant who “loves kids” and is just waiting for the right combination of hot weather and tail-pulling to go haywire.
Oh yes, and all the pee and poo.
As always when you read through the comments about this issue re dogs and their owners, rights/responsibilities – over and over again It’s the human element that blames the dog. Responsible ownership should be the emphasis and not banning dogs from enjoying green grass and open spaces in a city largely made up of apartments. In fact Brighton & Hove should set a trend – introduce Dog licences and please employ more Dog wardens. There’s only one!! Allow the police to fine irresponsible dog owners and every time the law is broken. Check for a microchip and fine if they don’t have one. Make sure the parks and beaches have enough dog waste bins as this is a problem everywhere. Outside my flat in Kemptown we had two dog waste bins and for no apparent reason, one was removed. It goes without saying that all dogs should be on a leash in areas shared with people such as parks, pavements etc. ID like to see more green spaces created exclusively for dogs where they can be off leash as os the practice in Europe. Dogs enjoy mixing with each other and their temperaments change when off leash – my experience is they are less anxious. Dogs are to many part of the family and being cooped up in a flat for 6 months of the year is beyond cruel!
Brighton council are a joke. The dogs here are well behaved and better than their human cohabitants.
More dog wardens are needed to target the owners who don’t pick up the mess. On the spot fines are required.
Drinking in public should be banned. The police just don’t have the resources to deal with the anti social behaviour going on in town. Drink, drug and rowdy behaviour all go hand in hand. It seems the police would rather drive around in a pride police car, rather than engage with the public. I have lived in Brighton for 10 years and I can say I’ve never seen a single stop and search. Get a grip Sussex police.
Ho ho ere were go, More Shit left on beach by Humans than dogs!
Every idiot seems to have a dog these days. Lazy owners with zero recall or control over their animals and let them run wild. Lazy owners ruining the beach and scaring children. Sorry I don’t want to be covered in slobber, pee and poo when I sit on the beach, I know its brighton but there are limits lol
To be a saddo and reply to my comment. None of it matters anyway as there is no one to monitor anything.
THE PISS HEAD COMMUNITY SHOULD DO THEIR DRINKING AT HOME OR IN NORTH STREET WETHERSPOON WHERE THEY ALSO CONGREGATE
Dogs are family. Vast majority of dog owners clean up after their dogs. Fine those who don’t, but the mess in the city and our streets is caused by humans not dogs. (More dog poo bins would be helpful). Brighton residents shouldn’t have to go way out of the city to go to the beach in summer – we pay council tax too . If you have a dog you can’t leave it at home alone all day, it’s cruel. Dogs in cafes cause less mess than children do, and dog free spaces should not constitute the whole main part of the seafront. Fine to have dog free spaces but it should be for the few that want it rather than imposing on everyone, including all those in Brighton without a car. I travel on the bus with my dogs and in many years have never encountered an unfriendly passenger – let’s be more inclusive. I find children rather annoying and unhygienic! – but I wouldn’t ban them from the beach, cafes, restaurants , or anywhere else.
Dog licensing after compulsory owner/dog training is needed. The owners need to be taught responsible citizenship. People think behaving badly is a Brightoncentric freedom & right. Its why so many like that come here.
The city is in a death spiral.
There is an issue nationally with dogs who have not been trained or socialised well. This is because the usual classes closed due to lockdowns. At the same time, demand for dogs soared and many puppies were farmed and poorly bred/introduced to life. So what we’re living with now isn’t down to people needing to be forced to train their dogs, the opposite that rules prevented people from getting their dogs trained.
Most dog owners have tried to catch up – but it is much harder later. Yes, harder to teach an old dog new tricks! But it is possible.
As for the dog licence, well that no more promotes responsible dog ownership than a TV licence gives us good TV programmes. All you had to do was pay for one and only around half of dog owners did this before it was abolished.
The council has all the powers required (as this PSPO renewal shows) to fine people for not picking up dog poo, to make owners with dogs in parks etc who are not behaving well put their dogs on leads (and fines if not), to ban dogs from certain areas (and fines if not). All backed by dog warden and police for any dogs who attack other dogs or people. The key question is whether the council is enforcing its current powers – by the tiny number of fines for not picking up dog poo, no it isn’t IMHO.
Same old story – responsible drinkers and dog owners are penalised due to the actions of a few. I am quite fed up with laws/regulation geared up to combat the lowest possible denominator.
Agree 100%
Some places its allowed, others not. Seems fair to me. Signage needs to be clearer and no dog areas actually enforced, if that happens and you find yourself bothered by a dog or lack of dogs you are probably in the wrong area. I personally find that urinating humans are more offensive, something that would be better if public toilets were actually available and when available, actually usable without wellies.
It is absurd that I am restricted from consuming certain forms of legal liquid refreshment in public in my city in places where I frequently observe people smoking and vaping. Also when cycling I frequently get chased by dogs which are out of their owner’s control. This would be enough to discourage others from taking this form of healthy physical exercise.
Personally i think get rid of the humans who don’t like dogs that would make the area a much better place.
Thank you for sharing this update on the review of the “public space protection orders” in Brighton and Hove. It’s essential for residents to be informed and have an opportunity to voice their opinions on such matters, especially when it involves public spaces that many use daily. While I understand the necessity of certain restrictions for the well-being and cleanliness of our beautiful city, it’s crucial to strike a balance that caters to all residents, including pet owners. I’ll be sure to participate in the consultation and encourage others to do the same. Let’s shape our city’s future together!