Public space changes we're proposing in our consultation
Consultation closed: Monday, 23 December 2019
Dog control orders
We currently use dog control orders to:
- cut down on dog fouling
- restrict dogs from such places as children’s playgrounds
- ensure dogs are kept on leads in sensitive areas (e.g. cemeteries and gardens of remembrance), picnic sites, sports pitches, car parks, or wildlife areas at specific locations
Find out about current dog control orders and maps.
Dogs on leads
Based on the feedback we have already received, we are only proposing one change to this order.
This change is to remove the requirement that dogs are kept on leads near sports pitches. The wording of the current order prevents dogs being off a lead in a park which contains a sports pitch. It has been suggested that this is too onerous. Dogs will not be allowed to foul on sports pitches under the new order, however dogs will be allowed off leads in a park in which a sports pitch is present.
The rest of the order remains the same. Dogs must keep on a lead (maximum of 2 metres long) in specified areas such as cemeteries, A and B roads and their pavements and verges. It also applies to some car parks, picnic sites and sensitive areas.
Dog fouling
We are proposing that this order remains the same.
If a dog defecates, the person in charge of the dog must immediately remove the faeces. Support/guide dogs are excluded.
Dog exclusion zones
We are proposing that this order remains the same.
The order would prevent dogs from entering specified areas, such as children’s play areas, sports and games areas, and specific areas of Rushmere Country Park, unless they are service or support/guide dogs. Clear signs will be in these locations.
Dogs on lead by direction
We are proposing that this order remains the same.
A person in charge of a dog (on land covered by the order) must put and keep that dog on a lead when asked to do so by our officers (if needed), to prevent nuisance behaviour by the dog that could annoy or disturb a person, bird or other animal.
Alcohol in public areas
This order gives the police and our officers additional powers to tackle on-street drinking where it is having a negative impact on the area.
The order is not a ban on drinking alcohol in public, but it gives us and police the power to ask people who are drinking in public in selected places to stop if there is a problem, or to hand over their alcohol.
We currently have an order in place covering public drinking in these locations:
- Ampthill
- Arlesey
- Biggleswade
- Barton-Le-Clay
- Caddington
- Dunstable
- Flitwick
- Houghton Regis
- Hockliffe
- Kensworth
- Leighton Buzzard
- Toddington
- Sandy
- Shefford
We can only have a PSPO where there is evidence it is needed. The evidence we’ve gathered so far suggests that we do not have significant alcohol-related issues in the following areas, so our proposal is to remove the existing alcohol orders in the following locations:
- Ampthill
- Barton-Le- Clay
- Caddington
- Flitwick
- Hockliffe
- Kensworth
- Toddington
View maps of proposed order removal areas >>
However, we do have evidence that there are issues in some other areas. So, we are suggesting including the following locations in the areas where we can restrict public drinking, if necessary:
- Biggleswade – Church Street and High Street
- Dunstable – High Street North, High Street South, Court Drive skate park, Eleanor’s Cross, Grove Gardens, Priory Gardens, The Square – Ashton Square, Newton Recreation Ground, Mentmore Recreation Ground, Dunstable Cemetery, Luton Recreation Ground, Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground and Priory Churchyard
- Houghton Regis – Bedford Square and Tithe Farm Road
- Leighton Buzzard – High Street, Lake Street and Market Square
- Shefford – High Street and Old Bridge Way
- Arlesey – Blue Lagoon area
- Sandy – Bedford Road Recreation Ground, Sunderland Road Recreation Ground, Fallowfield Recreation Ground and the Market Square
- Beeston – The Green and The Limes