Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Dog owners could be banned from walking their pets on a popular North Wales beach.

Dogs will not be allowed on Colwyn Bay beach at all throughout the year under a draft public space protection order being put forward by Conwy County Borough Council.

It comes as the authority revises its list of exclusion zones to help “minimise the risk” of dog fouling.

Conwy ’s report states: “The one significant change to the beach exclusion zones is since the development works in Colwyn Bay on the Promenade, the beach from Porth Eirias towards Rhos on Sea has now become a dry beach, in it is now unwashed by the tide, just like the small sandy beach in Rhos on Sea.

“This means should irresponsible dog owners allow their dogs to foul on this section of beach and fail to clean up, or leave residue if they do, the fouling will remain in situ.

“This will present unpleasant and dangerous implications from dog fouling to beach users.

“To that end, to minimise risk, the area of beach between Porth Eirias and the first stepped entrance to the beach to the left of the pier has been included in the proposed amended PSPO (public space protection order) as a 12 month exclusion for dogs.”

The council is consulting over the changes until February 23.

The restrictions also impact Llandudno North Shore beach, the Craig-y-Don paddling pool, Llanfairfechan beach and Recreation Ground/Land surrounding the Boating Lake, and Penmaenmawr Beach.

Anyone breaching an order could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100 , which they must pay within 28 days of risk prosecution.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The report states the local authority “continues to receive a high number of complaints every year in relation to irresponsible dog ownership, including dog fouling and uncontrolled dogs causing alarm, accidents, straying and even attacking other animals or people.”

Sue Humphreys who walks her two dogs on Colwyn Bay beach every day said: “I’ve had a look at the online report and I find it incredibly confusing as to where we are allowed to walk our dogs, as it’s not clear at all.

“It means we live in fear of getting fined £100 if we get it wrong. There has to be clearer signs.”

The council says the introduction of dog control orders has had a number of positive effects across the county, specifically in relation to dog fouling, with it detected on 5.3% of Conwy’s streets in 2017 as opposed to 16.5% in 2012.

Following the consultation and consideration of responses, any next steps will be decided by a meeting of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee.