The Isle of Wight has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and most are dog-friendly, however, Islanders are being reminded that some loocal beaches are off-limits or restricted to dogs between 1st May and 30th September.
You could get a £100 fixed penalty fine for anyone caught with their dog in restricted areas during this time – or up to £1,000 if prosecuted in court.
A full list of the beaches where the restrictions are in place between May and September can be found at https://www.iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Environment-Officers/Public-Spaces-Protection-Order.
Cabinet lead for waste, environment and heritage, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, has said:
“Our public space protection orders are there to ensure everyone – visitors and residents alike – can enjoy our parks and public spaces. It means that owners must clear up after their dogs – you can use any public bin and not just dog specific bins – and keep your dog under control and abide by restrictions are in place. The orders are also in place to preserve wildlife areas in our beautiful Island biosphere.
“Most dog owners are responsible people but we all know of, or have seen, some owners who don’t control their dogs and have no respect for others. The orders make sure we have the powers to deal with the few who don’t act responsibly.”
However, the good news for pampered pooches is that there are still plenty of beaches that welcome dogs all year round. You can find a list of these on the Visit Isle of Wight website at https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/dog-friendly-ideas.
I have seen many dogs on beaches that have dog restrictions… has anyone ever been fined ?? Many owners do not seem to care about the rules, or about people that are afraid of dogs or allergic to them… let alone the smell of them when they have been in the water !!
ARE YOU ON A WINED UP ?
Smelly dogs, allergies….. scared.?
Why don’t you and your family spend the rest of your life in a plastic bubble. Lol !
No its not a wind up, My daughter hates dogs and we are getting fed up with those owners that don’t care and those who allow those silly leads loose and allow the dogs to slober over my clean clothes
Yeah agreed. There is nothing more annoying when you’re walking along and a dog jumps up covering you in mud. The owner’s response is usually doesn’t mind him he’s friendly.
The number of owners who don’t pick up after their dog far outways those who do.
Keep the stinking mutt at home.
What fines, don’t make me laugh. It’s a nonsense.
It’s not just the Islanders that need to be reminded, visitors need to made aware too! Some visitors are unlikely to have their fun on the beach spoiled which could result in dogs being left in cars.
According to a FOI request I read last year on this very subject – NO fines have ever been issued on IOW for dogs on beaches. Ever. So, there is no enforcement therefore nobody will take any notice, as usual. What is the F,ing point ?
This USELESS INEFFECTUAL council never issue fines for dog fouling, dogs on beaches, bins on pavements….. the list goes on. Anything that requires someone at this useless council actually doing their job is just ignored.
What about fining all of the tourist and locals who, on a hot day on Sandown beach, just leave dirty nappies and wet wipes strawn across the pavements and on benches, amongst there empty wine bottles and lagar cans.
It is the dog walkers who pick this s**t up !
Totally agree. I hate dog waste left in bags, and it is usually other dog owners who pick up stray poo bags. But you are totally right, 99% of the rubbish left on the floor is non-dog litter. About time these people learnt to have pride and respect for their surroundings.
The reason that no fines have been issued is BECAUSE 99% of people like myself and other dog walkers obey the rules.
STOP F’N MOANING, when there is nothing to moan about !
This SHOULD be, a good news story.
From your comments I’d say Methinks the lady doth protest too much. 99% obey the rules? I don’t think so. There’s no stray dog issue here yet the streets are full of dog mess. Especially those who use those lazy leads to then pretend they don’t see what the dog is up to. Ridiculous to say 99% of dog owners Oban the rules.
There are some beaches we as a family simply don’t go to anymore because of out-of-control dogs ruining it for our children – and these are supposedly no-dog beaches during the summer months.
We’ve had friends with us whose children have been left in tears by dogs jumping at them and a family picnic on the beach ruined by dogs. Pointing out to the owners that the beach is not open to dogs is met with, at best, a shrug or worse, a mouthful of abuse. Not nice when you have young children with you.
There’s hundreds of miles of open spaces where dogs can be exercised, why can’t we have a few miles of beach where there’s no dogs?
I couldn’t agree more, You can’t go anywhere, I was out with my wife today cycling and there was a woman in a field with 6 very aggressive dogs barking and trying to get through the bushes at us. Horrible animals. My daughter would have been in tears. As you say why can’t we have some of our own space without these cretins
I am sorry to hear of this Catherine.
BUT, I can only talk from personal experience.
And it seems to me that I must live on a different island to you.
I find that nearly all dog owners pick up after there selves AND also spend a lot MORE time picking up after everybody else, especially younger families.
They talk the talk, but do nothing about it.
Has anyone seen a council person patrolling a dog free beach during the summer months?
Why also is it no one seems to mind about the huge plops of horse poo left on beaches, slipways etc. Jeez, the piles on Yaverland slipway the other day were something else!! Perhaps that’s OK and gardeners scoop it up for their roses?
I think there should be more prominent signage to inform those mutt owners what areas are out of bounds.
It’s ok for dogs to invade personal space. They are only being friendly. Blah blah blah. Bring back dog licences at £500 a year. People won’t mind paying if they really want them.