Dog walkers oppose planned beach restrictions

More dog walkers have criticised plans to ban dogs from part of a Kent beach and introduce new lead restrictions in the area.

Thanet District Council (TDC) is consulting residents on a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which would maintain dog exclusion zones on some beaches and introduce additional restrictions in Birchington.

Under the proposals, dogs would be banned all year from a stretch of beach in Birchington. Owners would also be required to keep their pets on leads on the northern sea wall between Cold Harbour and Plum Pudding.

The council said the measures were needed to protect wildlife and help retain Thanet's Blue Flag beach awards. The consultation runs until 9 October.

One dog walker, Marcus, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "If it's the law we'd have to do it, but I don't think many people would be happy about it."

Paul, another dog walker, said it was like "a sledgehammer to crack a nut", adding: "Maybe a more measured means of protecting the wildlife is something they should consider."

Graham Sergeant, who was out walking his dog, Bluebell, said: "People need to walk their dogs somewhere. What do you do, just ban people from having dogs?

"There's got to be a bit of give and take."

Some dog walkers previously spoke out against the ban after the consultation began and said they took care not to disturb the birds.

But one woman, Monica, from Minnis Bay, said she had seen dogs off lead and the proposals were a good idea.

She said even with a ban there was "a large amount of beach to walk on".

Nikki Groom, of Kent Canine Academy, said: "I don't agree with the ban itself. I agree that dog owners and walkers should be more responsible.

"No dog should be off a lead if they don't have a guaranteed recall, so train your dog."

Council papers cited concerns from Bird Wise East Kent, which said even occasional disturbance from human activity and dogs could cause significant harm.

A TDC spokesperson said the restrictions were to "mitigate disturbance to wintering and breeding birds".

They added: "The proposal is based on evidence of significant impacts of bird disturbance in this specific habitat.

"Dogs are also not allowed at Pegwell Bay, also an important bird roosting site."

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