New rules mean Bognor beach fronts will be dog-free zones in summer

The new rules were brought into place this week. They replace previous bylaws and carry heavy penalties for anyone breaking them.

Fixed penalty notices will be issued to people breaking the rules, witnessed by authorised officers.

The fine is 80, but reduced to 50 if paid within ten days. Non-payment may result in prosecution with fines up to 1,000.

Under the latest rulings, it remains a requirement for animal owners to clear up fouling. Between May 1 and September 30, dogs are not allowed on beaches.

They must also be on a lead on the adjacent promenades.

A new location affected by the order is Hotham Park fenced boating area.

This attracted complaints from dog owners as an outright ban on dogs had reportedly been considered.

But this has now been amended to allow owners to use the area with dogs kept on a lead.

Other public spaces requiring dogs to be on leads include children's playgrounds, cemeteries, churchyards, putting greens, bowling greens, BMX tracks, skate parks and games courts.

Under the new rules, if a dog is off the lead and causing a nuisance, an authorised officer can ask its owner to put and keep the dog on a lead. It is an offence if the person in charge of a dog fails to do so.

A spokesperson for the Kennel Club said: "We do not have so much of a problem with seasonal bans on dogs using beaches '“ it is more all-year round bans we object to.

"If dogs are banned from certain highly-populated beaches there should be others nearby that they are able to use."

For more details visit www.arun.gov.uk/dogs

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