More than 6,700 had their say on proposals to ban dogs from Sunderland’s beaches during the summer months

Sunderland City Council has been holding a consultation on its Public Spaces Protection orders, which included proposed amendments to rules around dogs on beaches during the summer months.

The consultation, which finished on Friday, February 26, had to be extended after an online petition received over 4,000 signatures calling on the local authority to leave the rules surrounding dogs on beaches as they are.

The council has revealed that more than 6,700 people took part in the consultation, which looked at various issues with the local environment and offered proposals on how it could be improved.

People were asked to choose between three alternatives that would cover the whole of both Roker and Seaburn beaches from May 1 to September 30 – with pets banned from all beaches between 9am and 6pm, allowed on the beach at all times, but only on a lead, or to keep the rules as they are with exclusion zones in place.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller, has outlined the next stage of the process, highlighting that residents’ feedback will be taken onboard.

Cllr Miller said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took the time and the trouble to take part in our consultation on plans to strengthen city wide enforcement powers.

"We really value our residents’ opinions and it’s brilliant that more than 6,700 people came forward to share their views.

“What came across loud and clear in our Let's Talk consultation last year, in which more than half the city’s population took part in, was that the environment is a top priority for our residents, with calls for more enforcement action as they want to live in a clean and green city.

“So this consultation was about focusing on the concerns that we know impact on the quality of life of our residents and getting their views on what they think we should be doing to toughen up our current enforcement powers.

“The next stage involves carefully studying the findings of the survey and the feedback we’ve had from residents before taking any decisions on updating the current restrictions or introducing new measures."

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