[UPDATE 28 April 2023: the Public Spaces Protection Order public consultation is now closed. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to complete the survey. For further information about the next steps, please visit our dog control PSPO consultation webpage].
Public consultation on reinstating the Public Spaces Protection Order for dog control on the Isles of Scilly
We’re consulting the public on our intention to reinstate, for a further 3 years, the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) relating to dog control, which expires on 1 July 2023.
How to complete the survey
Visit our dog control PSPO consultation webpage to read more about the current PSPO and respond to our survey.
The survey will be open for eight weeks from 13:00 on Friday, 3 March 2023 until 16:30 on Friday, 28 April 2023 and should take about 5 minutes to complete.
Further information
The current PSPO applies on all of the islands except Tresco and empowers us to issue spot fines to anyone in charge of a dog who, without a valid exemption:
- fails to remove and suitably dispose of its faeces on land covered by the order
- permits the dog to enter an exclusion zone in a designated area, including specific beaches between 1 May and 20 September (seasonal ban) and other public places at all times (year-round ban)
- fails to put and keep a dog on a lead in specified designated areas, including Hugh Town, Church grounds and specific bird breeding areas
- fails to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer
You can read the current PSPO in full on our Dog Control webpage.
In the Corporate Plan 2022-26, the Council committed to: "tackling public nuisance issues, such as excessive noise and dog fouling by working with the community and considering restrictions and enforcement options where necessary."
It is therefore our intention to reinstate the PSPO for a further 3 years, as we believe that having a PSPO in place acts as a deterrent to dog fouling and control issues on the islands. However, we would like feedback from both residents and visitors to the islands (whether dog owners or not) to ensure this is in line with public opinion and that our PSPO remains relevant and proportionate.
If you have an opinion on whether or not the Council should remain empowered to issue fines relating to dog control on the islands, or wish to see changes made to the terms of the current PSPO, please take the time to complete our survey to ensure your views are captured and they can inform our final decisions.