Warning as beach dog bans end for another year

Cornwall Council is reminding owners to act responsibly and pick up after their pets

Man walking dog on Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth
Author: Local Democracy Reporter Richard WhitehousePublished 1st Oct 2022
Last updated 1st Oct 2022

With the nights drawing in and leaves starting to drop from the trees, the number of Cornish beaches with restrictions on when you can exercise your dog will also fall. A number of beaches with restrictions saw these end for another season on Friday.

Cornwall Council has a number of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place which limit when dogs can be taken on some beaches. While most restrictions operate from July 1st to August 31st, those which have Blue Flag status run from May 15th to September 30th.

The restrictions only prevent dogs being taken onto those beaches affected from 10am - 6pm but from 30th September, those limits came to an end until next year.

Beaches where restrictions just ended

Carbis Bay Beach

Crackington Haven

Crooklets Beach, Bude

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

Polzeath Beach

Porth Beach

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

Porthminster Beach, St Ives

Porthtowan Beach

Sennen Beach

Trevone Beach, Padstow

Widemouth Beach, Bude

Beaches where restrictions have already ended

All other beaches covered by PSPOs set by the council are also now fully open to dogs after restrictions ended on August 31.

These are:

Cadgwith Cove

Castle Beach, Falmouth

Cawsand Beach

Chapel Porth Beach, St Agnes

Church Cove, Gunwalloe

Harveys Towans – Godrevy Point, Hayle

Housel Bay, The Lizard

Kennack Sands, The Lizard

Kynance Cove, The Lizard

Mousehole Beach to Skilly Beach

Wherry Town to Battery Rocks, Penzance

Longrock level crossing to Marazion

Perranuthnoe

Poldhu Beach, Mullion

Polurrian Cove, Mullion

Porthcurno Beach

Porthgwarra Beach, St Levan

Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives

Porthleven West

Porthpean Beach, St Austell

Portmellon Cove, Mevagissey

Portreath Beach, including harbour

Praa Sands

Readymoney Cove, Fowey

St George’s Well, Padstow

St Ives Harbour Beach

Summer’s Beach, St Mawes

Swanpool Beach, Falmouth

Tattam’s Beach, Portscatho

Tunnel Beach, Falmouth.

Beaches with all-year round bans

There are also some beaches which have all-year round, 24-hour bans set by the council. These are:

Carnsew Pool

Copperhouse Pool

Hayle Estuary

Warning from Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council has reminded dog owners that even though beach restrictions have ended for another year they still need to act responsibly when taking their dogs to the coast.

Enforcement officers can still issue fixed penalty notices to owners who fail to pick up their dogs’ mess on beaches.

Martyn Alvey, Cabinet member for environment, said: "As always we ask that people take responsibility for their pets at all times. This means picking up their mess and keeping them under control.

"Our enforcement officers do not always wear uniforms so you may not see them but be assured they do patrol many public places and if you don’t pick up after your dog, you may well be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice.

"We want our beaches to be a safe place where everyone can enjoy themselves and dog owners must respect those around them.

"Unfortunately, every year we hear about dogs that have fallen from cliffs and I remind people to make sure they put their pets on leads, especially near dangerous edges".

Cornwall Council is also currently undertaking consultation about the PSPOs which are in place to restrict when dogs can go to beaches. To take part in the consultation and give your views, visit the Let's Talk website.

All responses to the consultation need to be received by November 28th and will be used to inform the council's decisions for PSPOs in 2023/25.

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