Could dogs be banned from Maesydre?

Welshpool Town Council will write to other town and community councils in the area to lobby for a potential county-wide ban on dogs being allowed on sports grounds.

The issue has come to a head this summer with problems caused by rogue dog walkers letting their pets poop on playing fields in Welshpool, Guilsfield and Llanfair Caereinion and not picking up after them.

At this Wednesday’s full council meeting, councillors will be told that the Operations & Development Committee recommends the move after a rise in complaints this summer.

But councillors at that meeting also pointed out how hard it will be to enforce with councillors in the past being met by aggressive responses from some dog owners.

Guilsfield has also banned dogs from its playing fields in recent years, but recent problems have even led to the local school children being stopped from playing on the fields.

At the meeting, the Town Clerk, Richard Williams, updated councillors that the previously approved Dog Control Orders had now expired as they were not converted to a Public Spaces Protection Order between the required three-year period.

Mr Williams suggested that the issue of dog fouling on sports pitches seems to be widespread and perhaps the Town Council should write to other councils and lobby Powys to introduce a PSPO.

His recommendation was supported and should the full council agree this Wednesday, the letter will be sent to other local councils to garner support.