THE council has proposed a year-round dog exclusion on a new dry beach as a result of Rhos-on-Sea improvement works. 

Conwy County Borough Council is looking to extend a current 'Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order' for the county [that expires next month] and add three new areas - the dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea, Rhos Point to the Promenade Access Point in line with College Avenue and Penmachno Playing Field.

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Dog lovers are up in arms about the plans but the reason for the dry beach, also described as the 'tideless beach', being included in the ban plans has been revealed. 

A spokesperson for Conwy County Borough Council said: "A request has been made by the Council’s Environment Roads and Facilities Service to include the new dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea in the dog exclusion year round section, as following considerable improvement works along this area of the coast this beach in its entirety will now remain unwashed by the tide.

"We’re inviting responses to this consultation and no decisions about the Dog Control PSPOs have been taken. Once we’ve collated the results the matter will be discussed at the Council’s Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee, before a decision is made by Cabinet."

There is further information in the online consultation questions which gives some further information into proposals and the reasons behind. 

More than 2,000 dog owners staged a walking protest on Sunday, September 10 over the dog ban beach proposals.

Dog lovers met at Rhos-on-Sea tourist information centre and walked to the truncated pier in Colwyn Bay Colwyn Bay.

Placards were held up which read 'Black Labs Matter'; 'Down with this sort of thing' and 'Save Our Dog Beach Walks!'

Aaron Haggas, a dog walker from Rhos on Sea, organised the walk.

He said: "There were some brilliant banners and notices on display. The discussion between everyone, about how we can continue to have a diverse community where dogs would continue to be welcome, was constructive and positive. The general attitude towards the council and its proposal was disappointment, frustration and a lack of empathy."

Conwy County Borough Council has launched a consultation on the control of dogs in public places. The current Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) 2020 is in place until October 2023, when the proposed new draft Order would come into force.

The current Order includes:

Dog Exclusion Zones (e.g. beaches, playing fields)

Dog Fouling and means to pick up

Dogs on Leads

Dogs on Leads when asked by an authorised officer

Cllr Emily Owen, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: "Proposed Public Space Protection Orders and dog fouling are topics that regularly come up in most councillors’ inboxes. These Dog Control Orders aim to create a balance for dog owners and people who don’t have dogs to be able to enjoy public spaces.

"Our aim is to prevent the small number of irresponsible dog owners from allowing their dogs to foul, stray, and be out of control in a public place – thereby keeping everyone, including animals, safe."

As well as improving the coastal defences in Rhos-on-Sea, the council have made improvements to the promenade. 

The upgraded promenade features a four-metre wide shared space for cyclists and pedestrians, an activity zone with benches, planters, trees, play equipment and bins, event spaces with feature paving, public art feature near Combermere Gardens and health markers – showing distance travelled from Colwyn Bay pier.

The beach at Rhos-on-Sea reopened fully on April 6 after one million tonnes of sand was imported. 

20,000 tonnes of rock has been reclaimed and recycled to add into the higher, wider fish tail groyne, and the seawall has been repaired and repointed.

Last month, contractors poured the final coloured slab along the promenade, which runs all the way from Combermere Gardens to Porth Eirias.

The next stages of work sees the final surface being laid along the active travel route, the road and the parking areas.

The Public Space Protection Order, the proposed changes, maps and response form are available to view on the council’s website at www.conwy.gov.uk/pspo2023

The closing date for comments is October 4 2023.