Dog owners will soon have to follow new rules when walking their canine friends in Worthing, or they could face fines for breaking the law.

Worthing Borough Council has agreed to extend its public space protection orders (or PSPOs) for dogs.

The rules were introduced in 2019 and they control how and where dog owners can walk their pets.

Falling foul of the rules is a criminal offence and can lead to a £100 fixed penalty notice or a £1,000 fine if convicted.

The rules are now set to be extended until 2025 following a public consultation over the summer.

Existing rules say that a person can’t walk more than six dogs at a time.

Owners must also keep their dog on a lead on roads, pavements, grass verges, cemeteries, allotments, car parks, the pier, Denton Gardens, Beach House Park, and Marine Gardens.

Dogs are also prohibited from sections of the beach between May 1 and September 30.

Under the new rules, dogs will be allowed at the northern bowling green, in Beach House Park.

Dogs will no longer be banned from the north east corner of West Park Recreation Ground and they will also be allowed at Goring beach huts.

If the new rules are given final approval, dogs will be allowed on a lead at Heene Terrace, where they are currently banned.

Another new rule makes it mandatory for a person to provide their personal details to an authorised officer or constable if they’re investigated for breaching one of the PSPOs.

The changes were welcomed by WBC’s joint strategic sub-committee on Tuesday (11 October).

Cabinet member for the environment Vicki Wells explained that changes at Beach House Park were considered following feedback from members of the public and park rangers who said the northern bowling green was being used informally for exercising dogs.

Labour councillor Emma Taylor, who is cabinet member for citizen services, supported the change at Heene Terrace.

“Heene is quite a unique ward – we don’t actually have any green space really apart from Heene Terrace,” she said.

“I think with increased dog ownership and people valuing these spaces more and more, it’s important that everybody feels they’ve got the right to enjoy the space. It is a public garden and a very beautiful one.”

Council leader Beccy Cooper also welcomed the changes as she is a dog owner herself.

The PSPOs are due to be given final approval by the full council on Tuesday.

More information can be found on the council’s website: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/dogs/dog-control/