Dogs banned from beaches and parks

The pets will not be permitted on Eastbourne beach during the summer months under new legislation due to come into force on April 14.

Designated offices will also be able to instruct owners to put their animals on a leash, even if they are not in one of the areas covered by the control orders.

The orders will ban dogs entirely from Devonshire Park and children's play areas.

Eastbourne Borough Council has extended the orders to make walkers keep their pets on leads in the cemetery at Ocklynge and the grounds of the crematorium and cemetery in Langney.

If dogs are allowed to run loose their owners will face a fixed penalty of £75 or prosecution.

Dogs will be banned from Eastbourne beach between the pier and Wish Tower from May 1 to September 30 every year under the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005.

The order in Eastbourne will also mean anyone caught failing to remove their dog faeces on the Downland estate will face a fine or prosecution.

The control orders replace the existing dog bye-laws, with all existing controls being maintained in the new orders.

A new order also gives designated council officers the power to request owners place and keep their dogs on a lead if instructed to do so.

This will apply to all areas not already covered by the Dogs on Leads and Dog Ban Orders.

It will only be used if it is felt that a dog is not being kept under proper control.

Similar orders due to ban dogs from Brighton beach sparked uproar among protesters including television presenter Zoe Ball and Hove MP Celia Barlow who claim the move is unnecessary.

But the borough council says it is committed to improving Eastbourne's environment.

It will aim to encourage residents to care for their local environment and be aware of actions which will soon be an offence.

Eastbourne Borough Council finalised the details of the dog control orders after it consulted with the public and organisations including the Kennel Club.Margaret Bannister, Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing, Health and Community Services, said: "We want our local environment to be somewhere everyone, including dog owners and their pets, can enjoy.

"The vast majority of dog owners are responsible and have nothing to fear from these measures. However, anyone who allows their dog to foul the pavement, or create a nuisance, could be asked to pick up after it or bring them under control.

"If they refuse to cooperate they could receive a fine. In order to further assist in improving the environment, the council recently approved additional expenditure for up to 50 new dog bins, to be sited in areas where the greatest need is identified, over the next year.îInformation on the specific areas covered by the orders can be found on the council's website at www.eastbourne.gov.uk/dogs A map of the town and areas covered by dog control orders can be viewed at the Council Offices at 1 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TW.