Decision Details

Fiona Quinn

Head of Environmental Services and Port Health

fiona.quinn@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

Ben Hunter

Senior Environmental Protection Officer

ben.hunter@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

1. That the renewal of Public Space Protection Orders covering the control of dogs as detailed in Appendices C-M of the report be approved.

2. That the existing Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve Dogs on Lead PSPO be extended to include the area indicated as detailed in Appendix N of the report.

3. That the Dog Exclusion PSPO at Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve be allowed to expire.

Without these orders in place the Council has no authority to legally enforce in these areas. All the areas specified in this report are fundamental to the protection and enjoyment of the district's public spaces. 

The four Exclusion of Dogs from Beaches PSPOs are instrumental in maintaining the recognised quality of the district’s bathing areas, this includes supporting any Blue Flag designations. The criteria for awarding a Blue Flag states that “Dogs must be excluded from the award area of the beach during bathing season”.

For Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve to reduce the control for part of the site from a ban on dogs to allowing them on leads as it was considered to be a more proportionate control measure.