Dog beach ban returns

Published Friday, 4th May 2018

OWNERS are being urged to observe a seasonal ban that excludes dogs from some Hartlepool beaches.

The ban which covers a stretch of Seaton Carew beach between the Norton Hotel and the coach park, and the Fish Sands and the Block Sands on the Headland (including the lower promenade and the paddling pool), runs from May until the end of September.

It aims to ensure that the town’s most popular beaches remain clean and tidy during the main visitor season.

Dog owners caught breaching the ban will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) fine of £80.

However, council officials stress that there are still plenty of other areas of beach within the borough where dogs can be exercised freely.

Phil Hepburn, Team Leader (Enforcement Services), said: “We want as many people as possible, including dog owners, to be able to enjoy the town’s beaches.

“However, we feel that the seasonal ban on dogs is necessary to ensure our most popular stretches of beach are clean and tidy and attractive to visitors who, in turn, spend money that provides a vital boost to the local economy.”