Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

There will be a 56 day consultation period.
The District Council is about to start a 56 day period of formal consultation on the proposed orders, which have already been subject to informal consultation with town and parish councils, amongst others.

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced the concept of dog control orders as a streamlined replacement for using byelaws. If adopted later in the year, the proposed West Wiltshire orders will cover:

Fouling of land by dogs and the removal of dog faeces on all land open to the air where the public are entitled or permitted access, which comprises highways, verges, footways and towpaths; pedestrianised areas; open spaces owned, occupied or maintained by the District Council, County Council, any town or parish council, or any registered social landlord

Three areas of common land in Broughton Gifford parish

The open space and car park at Westbury White Horse

Cemeteries and churchyards

Land comprising woodland, marsh or agricultural land is not included.

The exclusion of dogs from land - applying to all enclosed children’s play areas and specifically to the Bulkington play area.

Principal environmental health officer Graham Steady said: “We need to balance the interests of those in charge of dogs against the interests of those affected by the activities of dogs. We also have to be sure that we can enforce whatever orders we put into place. The informal consultation gave a clear steer for where our priorities should lie, and we now have to check that our proposals are the right ones for West Wiltshire.”

The formal consultation will run for 56 days from Friday 19 January. It is expected that Cabinet will be asked to consider the outcomes of this in April, with a view to full Council confirming the order in June. The new powers would then come into effect from 1 August.

Details of the proposed orders and associated maps can be inspected between 19 January and 16 March by:

- Visiting the Council offices at Bradley Road, Trowbridge during normal office hours (8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm Friday); or

- Using the Council’s website - click on 'current consultations'.

To give your views, write to Dog Control Consultation, West Wiltshire District Council, Bradley Road, Trowbridge, BA14 0RD or email environmentalprotection@westwiltshire.gov.uk