Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Dog-walkers could face a hefty fine for letting their dogs run free on a beach in Essex.

Following a recent council decision, people could face a criminal record or a £100 fine if they let their dogs off their leads on Canvey Island's beach.

Castle Point Borough Council approved the plans two weeks ago to ban dog-walkers from freeing their pooches on the beach between April 1 and September 30 each year.

But the decision has led to a mixture of reactions from locals who regularly walk their pups along the beach.

"A blanket ban is short-sighted"

Jenny Bond, 43, from Point Area, has two King Charles spaniels, Ruff and Rascal who she has walked along Canvey Island's beach for years.

Earlier this year she moved to Canvey herself and was surprised to hear the decision had been made.

"We only moved since the summer, but we used to go out regularly," she said.

"I'm a bit shocked there's been no real notification to say that's required. There hasn't been any advanced warning.

"Respectful owners should take them for walks and make sure they behave well. I have never seen anything, there's not lots of dogs causing trouble, certainly not much.

"I have never seen any dog muck on the beach, occasionally you see some on the wall. There's lots of notices, it's a rare occasion."

Ms Bond believes having an area designated specifically for dogs would be a much better step in addressing the issues.

She said: "I'm new to the area but without any advanced warning, or consultation, or allowing certain areas that are dog friendly - and lots of areas do have that - to have a blanket ban is short-sighted.

"If it's an empty beach, especially this weekend, they were running on the beach, they like to chase the ball and take a great deal of pleasure.

"When there's a lot of people on the beach, then I do not go or I go in the evening times when its less busy."

"I'm not going to keep my dog on a lead"

Kash Lenette, 34, lives along Canvey Island beach and has been walking his dog Missy there for six years since she was a puppy.

Even though she is a big dog, he explained he had spent a long time ensuring she was trained to be friendly and controlled in public.

He is frustrated by the decision and is adamant he will not change his ways.

"It's just typical council. From what I have read I do not think, with the voting of it, there was only a few people in favour for it," he said.

"I live on the beach. I'm more the other side of the Island and I'm not going to keep my dog on a lead. If anyone tries to fine me outside my own house walking my dog I will just give a false name or go the long route so they don't know where I live.

"We put a lot of effort in so she is friendly and well behaved. [Another] dog attacked three dogs in twenty minutes - it comes down to the owners."

Mr Lenette also explained that he thinks the council should be focusing their efforts in a different way.

"They should focus on putting a warden who can check on people leaving poo - that would be far better," he said.

"The mess people leave down the beach anyway far outweighs the poo. The poo is disgusting but they are focusing their efforts in the wrong way.

"A dog needs to be exercised it can't exercise if it's on a lead. People saying dogs being aggressive, it's down to the owners.

"If you are a respectful owner, if it's an aggressive dog then they shouldn't be walking in public anyway."

"This sweeping ban is ridiculous"

(Image: Robin Webster)

Claire Clayton, 46, from Southfalls Road has walked her two pugs along the beach in Canvey Island for four years and doesn't see the point of the ban.

She said: "I fail to see how a fine for dogs not on leads will be enforced. They’re clearly going to have to pay for patrols to impose these fines? The money would be better spent on ensuring those that leave rubbish behind are dealt with.

"We really are so blessed to have this on our doorstep but yet again common sense doesn’t prevail and everyone is punished for the behaviour of a few and, to be totally honest with you, I’ve never seen any out of control dogs on the beach so this is a new one to me."

One of Ms Clayton's pugs, Lola, is ten years old and has always walked without a leash beside her.

"Lola is elderly so she doesn’t leave my side and is epileptic. Pugs aren’t meant to wear collars due to their breathing problems and she finds putting a harness on so stressful," she added.

"Sid is a pup and wears a harness, he’s still young so I only let him off lead on the big field right by the Point and only when my husband is with me and we have treats.

"They’re harmless little dogs and are friendly. I can understand if a dog isn’t but this sweeping ban is ridiculous and just another money making scheme."

Cleaner and safer

(Image: Castle Point Borough Council)

However, many people feel the measure is a positive step for keeping Canvey's beach cleaner and safer.

Tracey Day, 45, from Canvey, is one who thinks the ban will make it a nicer place for families to go.

"I think it’s a fab idea and loads of other places do this with their beaches and it’s so much nicer and cleaner," she said.

"The kids don’t dig in sand and dig up pile of dog mess from irresponsible dog owners - and before anyone jumps on me I know most are responsible."

As the grandmother of three young children, Ms Day's priority is keeping the beach safe. She owns two dogs but stopped walking them or her children along Canvey Island beach because of irresponsible dog owners who didn't pick up their mess

"I’ve seen how things happen so quick with people petrified of dogs but I also have to add that humans can also be as disgusting. I’ve seen the waste they leave on beaches and the dirty nappies.

"But I also agree that there should be more resources making sure there are people in authority making sure bins are emptied regularly so rubbish doesn’t pile over, and all over the floor, and people can be watched with their waste and get fined.

"But then I guess a lot of other councils care about the beaches and want to reduce risks as much as they can.

"Honestly, visit Cornwall and their beaches and you see the difference. I will sit on the beaches there all day. Would I sit down on Canvey beach with my grandkids? Nope, it’s too dirty for humans and animals."

Castle Point Borough Council

When approached by EssexLive for comment, Castle Point Borough Council denied the decision was a money-making scheme and highlighted the cabinet report.

In the report to the cabinet - specifically highlighting the consultation responses for the dogs on leads PSPO - it was mentioned how a report was put before cabinet on November 21, 2018 following an informal consultation.

That exercise sought views on the possible banning of dogs from the Canvey seafront and it received a total of 731 responses.

From those responses it showed that, with regards to dog mess, the most significant problem was perceived to be on the walkway seaward side, with the beach area having the least significant problem. With regards to dogs being kept on leads the beach area was marginally perceived to be more of a problem than on the walkways.

Following that, steps were made to consult on a PSPO that would mean dogs had to be kept on a lead on Canvey Island beaches and seaward walkways between April 1 and September 30. A statutory consultation took place from July 1 and August 31, 2019 with 285 respondents.

Of those respondents, 153 were in favour of keeping dogs on leads whereas 132 were against.