Bishop’s Stortford Town Council has asked for dogs to be banned from Castle Park’s paddling pool and small children’s play area.

Members of the environment and public amenities committee voted in favour of a recommendation from chief executive James Parker that the change was required as “problems have been experienced with members of the public ignoring instructions from staff to remove dogs from these areas”.

Assistance dogs required by those using the area – or supervising children using the leisure facilities – would be exempt.

The committee agreed that orders on the town’s allotments, at its cemeteries and in the adventure play area at Sworder's Field were not necessary.

Members were responding to consultation from East Herts Council on amending and extending the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB) and dog control issues.

PSPOs deal with a particular nuisance in a location. They can prohibit or require specific measures to be taken. A PSPO can be made for a maximum of up to three years, after which it may be extended or varied for up to a further three years or discharged.

The current restrictions were introduced in 2016 to deal with a range of issues including dog fouling, excluding dogs from certain spaces – such as play areas – and restrictions to deal with emerging anti-social behaviour trends at that time.

While the district council wants to extend existing dog control restrictions and add new areas, it is proposing that the restrictions relating to anti-social behaviour will be discharged and removed from the order as more specific legislative tools within the ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014 are proving more effective.

Cllr Graham McAndrew, EHC's executive member for environment and the public space, said: “Not all dog owners are responsible people who pick up after their dog.

"We continue to work with the police and other agencies to look at the other powers within the ASB Crime and Policing Act. It's important to continue these measures to ensure that public areas remain a pleasant and safe place for everyone to enjoy.”

Consultation closes on January 13. Residents can also have their say by filling in an online questionnaire at www.eastherts.gov.uk/pspo