As we await the announcement of what the new PSPO entails here in Plymouth UK, it is interesting to look at what the Local Government Association (LGA), the body that guides how councils bring in and monitor the PSPOs, suggests is good practice.

 

First of all, a great deal of what is suggested as good practice has been ignored in this city.

 

A valid consultation is essential, and we have not had that here. The August 2023 consultation offered two options: dogs on-lead on sports pitches or a complete ban of dogs on pitches. This is more draconian even than the 2020 consultation, where people were given the question: Should dogs be on-lead or off-lead on sports pitches? The majority voted for off-lead, but the council ignored the people’s choice and banned dogs off-lead on sports pitches. It seems they are determined to NOT listen to the dog-owning public.

 

An environmental impact statement is a prerequisite for good practice. It has not happened here and as far as anyone knows, is not going to happen. Such a statement would quantify various aspects of the situation, such as how much dog fouling there is in the parks, how many people actually use the parks and what for. In this area in Plymstock, there has never been a problem of excessive dog fouling as the users are locals who clean up and appreciate the clean fields. In fact, other than at match or practice times, there are only dog owners and  people eating take-outs and the odd group of kids knocking a ball about. Very, very few people use the park to go for a walk without a dog. Those of us who know the fields from years and years of walking here will tell you there is not a problem of tons of dirt.

 

The restrictions under a PSPO should be proportionate to the problem. As the local residents have never been aware of a problem (other than that of intimidating council officials telling us they have taken incriminating photos of our pets crossing a white line round a football pitch) and the council chooses not to be specific about the problem it sees, it is hard to see why we have any restrictions. Proportionality would be zero problem = zero restriction, but that is not what we have to bear.

 

Councils need to consider the potential impact of the PSPO and establish an evidence base including an honest consultation. Other issues, such as implementation and what it is possible to enforce need to borne in mind.

 

The LGA say that good practice includes prior and ongoing talks with all those concerned, in order to arrive at a reasonable PSPO. Despite this good practice guidance, I have never heard of any such outreach either before the PSPO began or afterwards. Has anybody approached you for your opinion?

 

We all know that a national law called the Animal Welfare Act 2006 tells us we are obliged to provide for a dog’s welfare, including regular off-lead exercise. So far, this city with its population of over a quarter of a million people, has shown no initiatives to welcome or even accommodate dogs. The only mention of dogs on the council website relate to fines, fines and more fines. Then they send out enforcers with body cameras to ensure you will be fined for exercising your dog on a pitch. It just so happens that the ONLY big spaces in our parks have white lines all across them. This is unreasonable and forces us to choose between disobeying a national law or a local PSPO.

 

The LGA counsels authorities not to ‘displace’ the frowned-on activity. i.e. send the problem elsewhere. In fact, given that most large parks are marked out with sports pitches, there is not much space left where dogs can be fully legally exercised. Pity those who do not have transport, who are in wheelchairs, who do not have lots of time, or who simply want to meet up with local folk in the local park. Ever heard of community spirit?

 

Further ,the LGA call for effective communication from town authorities and clear signage. So far, many people in this town have been fined simply because they were unaware of the PSPO, and because inadequate signage is commonplace. 

 

From start to finish, our local council has been outside the good practice that a modern democratically-run authority should aspire to.

 

1 Invalid, limiting consultation

2 Not heeding the results of the 2020 consultation

3 No environmental impact statement

4 No prior or ongoing communication with locals who are impacted

5 Failure to address dog owners’ obligation to follow the 2006 Animal Welfare Act

6 Unreasonable and disproportionate measures followed up by unreasonable and disproportionate enforcement

 

Plymouth City Council PSPO executive told us that the Order would continue in October this year, 2023.

 

We await to see if they are going to shuffle along ignoring best practice or . . what???