Plan to ban dogs from Poole beach all year round

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Plans to ban dogs from part of Sandbanks beach all year round are to go out for public consultation.

Poole Borough Council proposes an entirely dog free area on a 321 metre section of Blue Flag award winning beaches at Sandbanks.

Nearly all of the town's beaches have a seasonal ban from May until September, with the exception being from the Western end of Sandbanks promenade to the Haven Hotel and the east of Brankesome Chine beach office to the Bournemouth boundary.

If the plan proceeds the area in front of the pavilion and car parks at Sandbanks would become the first beach in Poole to be subject to the year round ban.

According to a report that came before the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the proposal follows "an increasing number of complaints regarding dogs causing a nuisance to beach visitors and fouling beaches during the winter period." The report also points out that a "significant minority of owners ignore the health and safety of others ."

A similar proposal in Bournemouth generated fierce opposition from dog owners and was eventually dropped.

The head of Leisure Services at Poole Borough Council, Clive Smith said "We want to ensure a balance between areas available for dog walkers and those concerned about dogs who want to enjoy the beach freely, without worry or interruption."

The proposal will go before Cabinet and should it be approved it will go out for public consultation.