The current PSPOs are working - we don't need more restrictions.  Additionally, the recommendations coming to Committee on 23rd June do not appear to pass the legal tests  required for changes to PSPOs.

Over the years, Warwick District Council (WDC) has steadily increased restrictions on dogs across the district. We now face even stricter rules that require dogs to be on leads in all of Leamington and Warwick's parks, including parts of Newbold Comyn, Victoria Park, St Nicholas Park, Pump Room Gardens, Eagle Rec and Kenilworth Castle Meadow.

These proposed measures are unnecessary, unsupported by evidence, and would significantly reduce the inclusive use of public spaces by responsible dog owners.  

The current orders are working

Currently, dogs must already be kept on leads in specific areas like Jephson Gardens, all cemeteries, and parts of Oakley Wood. The 'Dogs on Leads by Direction' order is also in place and was renewed in 2023. The majority of people comply with these regulations, and have no issue with them. 

Extending blanket lead restrictions to all parks would fundamentally change how people use these shared spaces, despite little evidence that further controls are needed. 

The legal test has not been met

• PSPOs must be based on evidence that demonstrates their necessity, be proportionate to the issues they address, and be used only when needed. 
• The local authority must demonstrate that the activities have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of those in the local area.
• These activities must be persistent and unreasonable in order to justify the restriction.
• The changes must be necessary and proportionate. The council must use evidence such as public complaints to justify them.

The evidence presented does not meet this threshold

The recent survey results from the council, and a list of all dog-related, recorded incidents obtained under an FOI request, do not justify or support the scale of the proposed measures. The FOI request found just 86 incidents over 75 months in all ten parks listed. This is an average of 0.11 per park, per month. Some parks had no recorded incidents at all - Pump Room Gardens, Pageant House Gardens and Mill Gardens.

Several reports related to dog welfare concerns, or dogs off lead in a dogs off lead area, for example, meaning the number of relevant incidents is even lower. 

How can this level be considered 'persistent and unreasonable', making further restrictions 'necessary and proportionate'? 

Questionable figures and misleading - or leading - questions

The working party claims that 90-94% of respondents support further restrictions, but the published survey results do not back this up. In fact, nearly 60% of respondents do not suggest further restrictions, and some suggestions referred to areas where orders are already in place, such as children's play areas. Where does the 94% figure come from?

Appendix 2, page 4 of the report to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee in March 2026, refers to 486 complaints about dogs since January 2022. Yet our FOI request showed just 86 recorded incidents over an even longer period. Where have these additional complaints been recorded?

Some questions in the survey were also misleading. For example, Question 10 referred to retaining a dogs on leads order 'on sports grounds and fields used for sports'. This is factually incorrect. In reality, the current order (Dogs on Leads 2020) only applies while authorised sporting events are taking place - not at all times as implied by the questions. 

Conclusion

Warwick District's parks are valued community spaces, and responsible dog walkers are an important part of that community. These proposals would reduce access to public space, unfairly penalise responsible owners, and diminish the enjoyment many residents gain from exercising their dogs safely off lead. 

• The evidence doesn't justify further restrictions
• The current PSPOs are working - there's no need for change
• The survey contains misleading questions
• It's also noted that out of 20 questions regarding changes to the PSPOs - which target anti-social behaviour - 18 of them are about dogs. This is highly imbalanced.

I am calling on Warwick District Council to say no to these unnecessary restrictions for dog walkers in our parks. Please sign this petition to oppose further excessive restrictions on dogs in Warwick District.