Dog owners across the Isle of Wight are being reminded that their pets must be kept on leads on public roads, pavements and verges – with the Council warning that the rule can be enforced even where signs are not displayed.
The requirement forms part of the Isle of Wight Council’s Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), which include a number of measures governing dogs in public places.
Under the order, dogs must be kept on leads on all public roads, including adjoining pavements and verges, within the Isle of Wight Council’s boundaries.
The reminder comes after a man was found guilty at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on 6th August of 2 counts of failing to keep his dog on a lead on land covered by an Isle of Wight Council PSPO. The offences took place between 11th November and 3rd December 2025.
He was fined £660 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £264 surcharge – leaving him with a total bill of £1,009.
The dogs-on-leads requirement also applies to limited-access roads used only by certain services. The Council has highlighted Appley Walk and Garden Walk across Ryde seafront as examples. The routes pass Appley Tower and continue towards Puckpool.
Temporary signs have been in place in key areas, including Ryde seafront, for several months to inform dog owners of the restrictions. However, the authority has stressed that signs are not required for the dogs-on-leads element of the PSPO to be enforced on roads, pavements and verges.
Public Realm Officers regularly patrol areas covered by the orders and will engage with dog owners to explain the rules where necessary.
Officers do not have the power to seize dogs but can issue Fixed Penalty Notices as a last resort when a PSPO is breached. Repeated non-compliance can result in legal action through the courts.
Separate restrictions mean dogs are not permitted within fenced children’s play areas at any time.
There are also seasonal dog exclusion zones on selected Isle of Wight beaches, although these are separate from the island-wide dogs-on-leads requirement.
Exemptions are in place for people who are registered blind or rely on trained assistance dogs.
Dog owners have decided this doesn’t apply to West Wight
Same at St Helens and the worst culprits are the locals who seem to think that it does not apply to them.
Retractable leads should be banned. They are as useless as having no lead and the dogs are often allowed to roam at will with the lead obstructing other walkers.
Why don’t understand this if your dog is supervised and well behaved as most are
its the alcoholics littering up our seaside towns that need banning, where are the signs about that, they are intimidating leave litter everywhere and are a nuisance to the general public. Get some signs up banning them instead and don’t bother trying to talk to them, they should their alcohol taken away and be removed from public places or put in stocks!
Alcoholism is an addiction.
Addiction is an illness.
You want to ban sick people from the public realm?
This is the UK in 2026, not 1930’s Germany!
How about supporting sick people with treatment and compassion instead?
Sick people don’t normally intimidate pleasant folk. Nor litter public spaces or soil and urinate in full view.
The “woke” in your “title” hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Well said…
Those things you mention are symptoms.
Symptoms of a serious, life-threatening illness.
Banning sick people from public view because you find the symptoms of their illness unpalatable is inhumane.
People deserve the opportunity to be have compassionate care for their illnesses, not erasing from society.
The “woke” in your “title” hasn’t gone unnoticed.
That’s good. I hoped it would be noticed. Nasty former Conservative Home Secretary (and current member of Farage’s ultranationalist hate cult) Suella Braverman described people like me as “the Guardian-reading, Tofu-eating Wokerati”. She intended it pejoratively. I and many others have reclaimed the phrase and wear it with pride. Being “woke” is a positive human attribute.
WOKE: Alert to racial prejudice, systemic injustices and discrimination.
Even if they are Alcoholics, there are still laws that should apply to them, being drunk in a public place and disturbing the peace.
Who lit the fuse on your tampon,
It’s a choice to start drinking.
Why don’t understand this if your dog is supervised and well behaved as most are
its the alcoholics littering up our seaside towns that need banning, where are the signs about that, they are intimidating leave litter everywhere and are a nuisance to the general public. Get some signs up banning them instead and don’t bother trying to talk to them, they should have their alcohol taken away and be removed from public places or put in stocks!
Why don’t understand this if your dog is supervised and well behaved as most are
its the alcoholics littering up our seaside towns that need banning, where are the signs about that, they are intimidating leave litter everywhere and are a nuisance to the general public. Get some signs up banning them instead and don’t bother trying to talk to them, they should have their alcohol taken away and be removed from public area
Such a vile opinion, you had to share in three times?
Your reply is worse….
Will never happen there is no one to ENFORCE the rules
same applies to cleaning up dog mess, many owners just
walk off and leave it behind.
Hence the need of CCTV that may be a deterrent, but numpties
will still walk off because they know nothing will be done
about it.
Last night at Gurnard beach by the beach huts people were taking their dogs on the beach even though a sign clearly states no dogs on the beach until the end of September.
Children were playing and a couple of people in the sea.
That is because people don’t give a Fcuk.
The same applies to parking vehicles
ZERO RULES ON THIS LAWLESS ISLE
And may we as dog owners remind council your responsibility to have Dog Pooh bins for public house not whisky them away in dead of night otherwise The Island will really become a “dh.i hole”!!!
Here’s a revolutionary thought.
instead of all bickering and playing high and mighty (and I include you Wokerati in that), how about instead of just having signs telling people which beaches you cannot use the Council apply a bit of thought and add signage that tells you which beaches you are allowed to take your dogs on!
Have you ever tried the Council Website, it’s cumbersome and confusing at best!
Yes, there will always be owners who ignore/flout the rules, but, in those cases, Authorities should come down HARD on them!
The signs are there. (Although I’m not sure why only the “wokerati” can read them…oh…hang on…)