PET owners could soon be fined £100 if they fail to clean up after their dogs.

Halton Council is consulting with residents over plans to create a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to help increase its powers to promote responsible dog ownership.

Under the proposals dogs could be banned from more parks and open spaces and will have to be on leads in other new areas.

Dog walkers will be required to carry bags to clean up after their dog has fouled and there could be a restriction on the number of dogs that an individual can walk at any one time.

The council recognises that the vast majority of dog owners are responsible, pick up after their dogs and keep them under proper control. However, there is a minority of people who do not.

Dog fouling and other forms of anti-social behaviour associated with irresponsible dog ownership are significant issues for many people in Halton.

Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence and individuals who do so face being issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100.

The new powers aim to deter irresponsible behaviour by dog owners and reduce the need for enforcement measures.

To share your views visit halton.gov.uk/dogcontrol or paper copies are available at Direct Link shops.

The consultation runs until September 28.

These are the proposed areas where dogs could be excluded:

Town Park

Spike Island and Catalyst

Upton playground

Upton multi use games area (MUGA)

Spike Island MUGA

Windmill Hill Avenue South – ball play

The Glen MUGA

The Glen Palacefields Avenue

Frank Myler Recreation MUGA

Town Hall Grounds formal gardens

Town Hall Grounds – MUGA

Runcorn Cemetery extension

Runcorn Hill Park tennis courts

Hill View

Kingsway CRMZ MUGA

Peel House Lane Cemetery

The following are additional sites where dogs must be kept on leads:

Wellington Street

Roehampton Drive

Spike Island (in part)

Town Hall Park (in part)

Hale Park

Rock Park

Runcorn Hill Park (in part)

Upton Green playground

Ridding Lane ball court