Devizes park set for dog controls (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Devizes park set for dog controls

12:00pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

Devizes Town Council is to take action against dog owners who do not keep their pets under control in its centrepiece Hillworth Park.

On Tuesday evening, councillors unanimously approved the implementation of dog control orders in the park, although they are not minded to widen the scope of the scheme to take in other “hot spots” on The Green or in Avon Road.

A report to the meeting of the council’s recreation and properties committee said: “Officers have received a number of complaints from users of Hillworth Park advising that their enjoyment of the facility is spoiled by dogs, which are not on a lead and allowed to run free.”

The town council has approached Wiltshire Council to enforce dog control orders at Hillworth Park, The Green and Avon Road playing field, all owned by the town council, but the unitary authority has decided not to include areas outside its control.

So the town council has decided to bring in its own dog control orders.

Town councillors were told: “At this time officers are not recommending we pursue dog control orders for The Green or Avon Road until we have a clearer understanding of their effectiveness and the resources needed to manage them.”

Under the orders, dog owners will be subject to a fine if they do not keep their animals on a lead and under control in the areas where the orders are in force.