Under new dog control measures released by Okehampton Town Council last week, owners will now be forced to keep their dogs on leads in the formal gardens at Simmons Park.

From April 1 2022, dog owners will have to keep their pets on the lead on the chalet and pond side of the river in the park following the town council’s review of the Public Space Protection Orders for Dog Control approved by West Devon Borough Council in 2020.

Town councillor Tony Leech said: ’The order gives West Devon Borough Council more powers. [The 2020 order] said dogs were to be kept under control but people voiced complaints of dogs jumping up at people and children and owners still said their dogs were under control.’

As a former dog owner himself, Cllr Leech stated that he knew most dogs were well-behaved but had experience of them becoming temporarily ’deaf’ when something interested them. He added that under control meant coming when called every time.

’When I had my own dog,’ said Cllr Leech. ’If I went through the park he was always on the lead, so I knew he was fully under control. He was very good but he did become deaf when there was something interesting.’

As before, dogs are banned from fenced in play areas, the cricket field and must be kept off the playing field during school hours or while the field is in use.

They must be kept under control in unfenced play and recreation areas.

Dogs will still be allowed off the lead on the open public areas of parkland and many areas on Dartmoor.

The new orders still require dog owners to dispose of their dog’s waste and can still face a fine of up to £100 if they fail to so or do not bring the means of removing any waste, such as poo bags.

The council is also asking owners to ensure they put the waste in the bins provided following complaints that some were placing dirty poo bags close to the bin instead.

Borough council rules categorise the failure to dispose of dog waste correctly as a dog fouling and littering offence and suggests that owners dispose of their dog’s waste at home if there is no other means of disposal.

Cllr Leech said: ’The problem is making sure owners pick up after their dogs. If the dogs haven’t been wormed it can cause problems.’

The council has confirmed that more checks will be put in place to ensure that these new regulations are followed.

The council intends to offer leaflets to park visitors reminding them of changes to the dog control order and has asked park keepers to monitor the dogs.

Under the new rules, park keepers will be able to report incidents to dog wardens who will handle any cases of infringement. However, anyone with a registered assistance dog may enter a dog exclusion zone with their pet and may not be punished for failing to dispose of waste.

In 2020, the previous dog control order expired and the borough held a public consultation on the newly proposed rules.

The new restrictions required owners to carry the means of clearing up after their dog, keeping dogs on leads in designated areas and on 30mph speed limit roads or if asked by an authorised officer and preventing their pets from entering a dog exclusion zone.

The proposal that dog walkers should be limited to walking a maximum four dogs at any one time was abandoned due to a limited positive response to the idea and the amount of work required to issue exemption licences to professional dog walkers.