Council reminds dog owners of its beach restrictions during tourism season
Fri, July 03, 2015
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council would like to remind dog owners visiting the Borough’s beaches over the summer season to be considerate of its Dog Control Orders. 
Aidan McPeake, Director of Environmental Services at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said, “While Council’s Dog Control Orders may restrict where you can walk your dog, the message Council is keen to evoke is that, dogs are still very much welcome at all of its beaches within designated areas. Aidan continued, “The Dog Control Orders have been enforced in certain beaches from 1st June until 15th September 2015. During the busy tourism season there are large numbers of visitors expected to visit our beaches over the summer period. It is important to keep our beaches safe and to their highest standards of cleanliness to ensure they are enjoyed by everyone. “Dog owners visiting the beaches of Downhill, Castlerock and Portrush can walk their dogs in the designated areas clearly marked on signage. Dogs are however excluded from the Salmon Rock beach at Portballintrae. “I’d also like to remind dog owners that the Dog Control Orders make it an offence if a person in charge of a dog fails to clean up its faeces. In addition dogs are required to be on a lead on cycle paths on East and West Strand Promenades. Signage has been erected on the cycle paths from the Harbour in Portrush to Blackhill and from Bath Street to the end of the Promenade at East Bay carpark. Council’s Dog Wardens will patrol the Boroughs beaches and public areas on a regular basis and will enforce the legislation by issuing fixed penalty notices to offenders. “Council aims to reduce the number of offenders, as we are working to encourage owners to be responsible and to come along with their dogs, within the designated locations the Dog Control Orders state.” Failure to comply with the Dog Control Orders and Dog Fouling carry maximum fines of £1,000. The opportunity of a fixed penalty of £80 may be issued as an alternative measure to prosecution. Further information on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Dog Control Orders can be found on Council’s website www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.