IT’S ONE of Swansea’s best assets but where and when dogs should be allowed on it is rather more contentious.
Dogs have been banned on two sections of Swansea beach between May 1 and September 30 since 1991 and 1998 respectively.
Many dog owners believe this is unfair. There are also people who say parts of the five-mile beach should remain dog-free in the summer.
Council chiefs are now planning to consult on a formal change to the current byelaws following a survey last summer which more than 4,000 people responded to. Around three-quarters of those taking part felt it was a time for change.
The consultation will ask people if they think the restricted area between the West Pier and Guildhall should be amended so dogs can walk on the section between the pier and The Observatory cafe-restaurant, and also allow greater access further west by de-restricting the section between the slip at The West Cross Inn to the promenade opposite Mayals Road.
The consultation, assuming it’s approved by cabinet on February 20, will also ask if no amendments to the byelaws should be made. The upshot therefore would either be no changes, or the two restricted areas being smaller than currently.
Mike Holmes, who was walking his West Highland terrier Watson on the prom on February 17, said he could see both sides of the beach argument. “Well-behaved dogs I don’t have a problem with, provided their owners clean up their mess,” he said.
Another dog walker, Roger Rees, filled in last year’s survey and said he felt the whole beach should allow dogs throughout the summer, noting that some parts of it were quiet even at the peak of the season. “What is the ban for?” he said.
A woman walking at the beach who didn’t have a dog said the summer restrictions were a “real pain” for owners like her parents, but that there was a risk from “poorly-behaved” dogs potentially causing an injury or their owners not picking up after them. The woman, who asked not to give her full name, said on balance she’d prefer more dog access. “I think it’s a good thing for tourism and the economy,” she said.
The proposals would not affect beaches in Gower as they have blue flag status. A report before cabinet said a key part of that status was bathing season dog restrictions. No section of Swansea beach has blue flag status.
The report said the stretch of marina fronting the beach had developed into the residential area it now is after the 1991 byelaw came into force.
It also said that bathing water sampling officers noticed a “significant proportion” of dog walkers ignoring the byelaws a decade ago, prompting stricter enforcement. More than 60 fixed penalty notices were issued in 2016. The number has declined since then, due in part to the council no longer having an external enforcement contractor.
During the coronavirus pandemic the council received many enquiries from the public about the byelaws, along with requests from both dog owners and non-dog owners for more enforcement action.
Then, last summer, what’s known as a pre-consultation took place about a potential change to the exclusion zones, and 4,188 people responded. A total of 77% of them were dog owners. Key results included 77% of all respondents saying the byelaw exclusion zones should be revised while 72% of respondents said the byelaw time period of May 1 to September 30 should change.
There were also comments in favour of maintaining the status quo and concerns about dog mess and some children being scared by dogs. Any changes following the consultation would need full council approval.
Cllr David Hopkins, cabinet member for corporate service and performance, said: “The pre-consultation exercise we undertook in the summer has given us lots of useful feedback which we have used to develop changes to the existing plans.
“The proposals enable dog owners to have more access to Swansea Bay during the summer and still provides dog-free sections for families who may feel uncomfortable around animals.
“We are fortunate enough to have such a wonderful and vast bay in the city where we can consider these sorts of arrangements and ensure everyone is happy and can visit the beach all year round.”
