From 2006 to 2010, I was a councillor for Lee Green ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. During that time, I blogged regularly and in 2009 I won the Tim Garden Award for the Best Blog by a Liberal Democrat Holding Public Office. My blog posts from my term of office are archived here in case they prove of use to former constituents, or to those who share my annoyance with faulty street furniture
I’ve posted a couple of times about the dog control orders. At the last local assembly, Sam Kirk from the Council came to talk to the assembly about the orders. They take effect today.
From today an on-the-spot fine of £75.00 can be given to people who:
- Fail to remove their dog’s faeces from a public place
- Do not keep their dog on a lead in a designated area such as a park or open space – these will be sign-posted in public areas
- Do not put, or keep their dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer
- Permit their dog to enter land to which dogs are excluded – these will be sign-posted
- Take more than 4 dogs onto land at any one time
You might have seen some of the warning notices that have already been posted on lamposts around the ward. As well as Council enforcement officers other partners such as Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Neighbourhood Wardens, housing partners and the Council’s parks contractors, will have the authority to issue the Fixed Penalty Notices if people do not comply with the regulations.
The Dog Control Orders exclude people who are registered blind with a guide dog and people with trained/registered support dogs.
As part of its drive to encourage responsible dog ownership, Lewisham Council holds free dog microchipping events around the borough. Contact Lewisham Animal Welfare Team on 020 8314 2098 for more information. For further information about the locations where the Dog Control Order applies, visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/dogs
