A council has confirmed that walking dogs in a particular park is a criminal offence after a row erupted over whether the ban could be enforced.

Brunswick Square Gardens, Hove, has had a dog ban in place for more than ten years but a row broke out online after a Brighton resident said the rule could not be enforced.

Since 2011, all dogs – excluding guide dogs, hearing dogs and disabled support dogs – have been banned from the park under a public space protection order (PSPO).

But a post on Facebook which garnered dozens of reactions and comments said the Brunswick Square law could not be enforced.

Coral, from Brighton, said: “You won’t be arrested but you will be fined by the council environment enforcement team if caught in the garden with a dog, due to a council-enforced bylaw. Having been fined, I don’t agree with the bylaw, but these are the facts.”

Emma Thomas, who runs ayurveda company Balance and Bloom Brighton, said: “I love dogs. Unfortunately the park near where I live has lots of dog poo on it so humans can’t sit in it. I have got it on me twice sitting down there and it’s really unpleasant.

“Once on my foot and another time on my yoga mat. It’s annoying not being able to enjoy nature close to your home.

“There are so many parks that dogs are allowed in - so I think it’s a good idea to have at least one park that humans can enjoy too without worrying about this.”

Councillor Leslie Pumm, chairman of the council’s equalities, community safety and human rights committee, said: “As a dog owner, I understand the convenience of having a green space on your doorstep, and particularly for those of us without our own private outdoor space. 

“At the request of local residents, dogs are not allowed in the gardens of Brunswick Square and this has been the case for more than ten years.

“The signs we’ve put up in the square make this very clear. As an order is in place, it means taking your dog there is a criminal offence.

“Thankfully, there are plenty of other dog-friendly spaces in our city.”