Newham Council clampdown on ‘nuisance’ dogs

But claims responsible owners will suffer

DOGS are to be banned from 160 sites across Newham, under tough new restrictions agreed by council chiefs.

Owners will also be required to keep their pets on the lead in 12 other areas when the measures come into force later this month.

In all other parts of the borough, police, street scene and parks staff will have the power to order people to put leads on their animals.

Anyone found to be flouting the rules will be hit with an �80 fixed penalty notice.

The restrictions have been introduced via a series of dog control orders, which were agreed at a full council meeting on Monday.

Signs will be put in the affected areas - at a cost to taxpayers of �12,000 - before the measures come into force on March 21.

Bosses say they are a key weapon in tackling “dog nuisance”, but critics claim the orders will penalise responsible dog owners.

Caroline Kisko, communications director at the Kennel Club said: “While we do not oppose the use of dog control orders in certain situations – such as the exclusion of dogs from children’s play areas – we believe that proactive methods should always be favoured over restrictions in the first instance.

“We have spent a lot of time working with local authorities across the country to develop successful initiatives to resolve issues with dog fouling and other forms of canine-related anti-social behaviour. We would therefore encourage Newham Council to adopt a positive approach to these problems, and look to promote responsible dog ownership across the borough.”

The majority of sites covered by the total dog ban are play and sports areas.

They include parts of West Ham Park, East Ham’s Central Park, Plashet Park, Canning Town Recreation Ground and Beckton District Park.

The requirement to keep dogs on the lead will apply at sites including Stratford Park and King George V Park.