TWO Somerset unitary councillors are calling for dogs to be allowed on part of Minehead beach all year round.

The new unitary Somerset Council is currently conducting a public survey of views on whether to reintroduce a dog ban which expired four years ago.

The former Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT), which was replaced by the unitary in April, forgot to renew the ban in 2019 but left the signage in place until it was queried earlier this year.

Now, residents, visitors, and businesses have until October 6 to give their views on a proposal to introduce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) across West Somerset.

Cllrs Mandy Chilcott and Andy Hadley, who represent Minehead on the Somerset council, said they raised concerns about the old PSPO last year when they realised the previous dog control orders for the town had lapsed.

Cllr Chilcott said: “Many have spoken to us about their views and we would encourage all to now have their say. Please read the draft order.

“The main area for which we have had concerns raised has been in relation to Minehead beach.

“Cllr Hadley and myself strongly believe that our wonderful beach has room to welcome all.

“We have been asked by residents for our views, and in responding to the consultation we will suggesting that part of the beach from the Jubilee Café to the harbour is open and available for dog walkers to enjoy all year, and the rest of the beach is ‘no dogs allowed’ during the holiday season.”

Until the old PSPO lapsed, dogs had been banned from parts of Minehead beach during the tourism season and all-year-round from the town’s Blenheim Gardens.

Any new PSPO for dog control would run for three years and cover dog fouling, dogs on lead by direction, and dog exclusion zones.

It would require anybody in charge of a dog to pick up faeces after their dog fouls anywhere which is open to the public, such as pavements and footpaths, and properly dispose of it.

They would also be banned from taking their dog into any enclosed children’s play area or any enclosed sports facility.

Police or other authorised officials would be able to order a person in charge of a dog to put the animal on a lead if restraint was considered reasonably necessary.

PSPOs are enforceable under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and are used to protect the public from behaviour which has, or is likely to have, a persistent and unreasonable detrimental effect on the quality of life of local people.

A £100 fixed penalty notice can be issued to offenders and if prosecuted the person could be fined up to £1,000.

The only exemptions to the order would be for people who were registered as a blind or with a disability which affected their mobility, and dogs trained by Dogs for the Disabled, Support Dogs Limited, or Canine Partners for Independence.

Somerset Council is proposing a Minehead Beach dog ban from the golf course groyne to the harbour between May 1 and September 30 each year, while for other areas such as Blenheim Gardens the exclusion would be all year round.

More information about the consultation and a questionnaire, which is open to residents, businesses, and visitors to West Somerset, is available online here.

Paper copies are available by calling the council on 0300 123 2224, and draft copies of the PSPO are also available at the following locations:

• West Somerset House, Williton

• Porlock Community Library

• Minehead Library, Bancks Street

• Dulverton Library, Fore Street

• Watchet Community Library, 11 The Esplanade

• Williton Library, Killick Way

• Nether Stowey Community Library, Castle Street