New dog restrictions for Perranporth beach agreed

Image caption, The restrictions will begin at Perranporth beach in July

Plans to control dogs on one of Cornwall's most popular beaches will be in force this summer.

Councillors at Perranporth, near Truro, have agreed the restrictions, despite angry letters and e-mails from more than 1,000 pet owners.

Dogs on the busiest parts of the beach will have to be kept on leads between 1000 and 1700 BST during July and August.

Some protesters greeted the vote with shouts of "shameful".

Resident Steven Ryan, who regularly walks his dog on the beach, said: "From a personal point of view I have no problem with having an area of a beach where dogs are under control on a lead or otherwise.

"What I do think is that it's too big an area. When the tide's in you've cut off a huge section of the beach where you are allowed to let the dog off during that period.

'Great distress'

"I think if there had been a bit of a revision about the size I would have been quite happy, personally, about it."

Vice chairman of Perranzabuloe Parish Council Ken Yeo has defended the decision to restrict dogs.

He said: "We have said from day one we would not ban dogs on the beach. What we're looking to do is to control dogs.

"Our concern is not the responsible dog owners but the smaller number of owners who do not clean up after their dogs, who leave them off leads and cause great distress to holidaymakers, particularly children who feel sometimes threatened by dogs."

The council originally announced their proposal to introduce the daytime restrictions last September.

The new scheme will coincide with Cornwall's peak summer season when thousands of people visit Perranporth's three-mile long beach.