Swansea Council is considering changes to dog walking rules on the city beach. A vote is scheduled for February 20th.
Many owners feel this is unfair. Some want dog-free areas in summer. The council plans a formal change to rules. A survey with 4,000 replies helped show that about 75% wanted a change.
The plan asks about two specific areas. One is between West Pier and Guildhall, considering if dogs could walk to The Observatory cafe. The other area is West Cross Inn to Mayals Road, potentially allowing more access.
The council will vote on February 20. They could approve the consultation allowing people to also suggest no rule changes. The beach rules might then stay the same, or restrictions may become smaller.
Mike Holmes, who walks his dog, sees both sides of the issue. He said that well-behaved dogs are fine, as long as owners clean up after them.
Roger Rees did the survey last year and thinks dogs should be allowed all summer. He points out that some beach parts are quiet, even in summer, and asked, “What is the ban for?”
One woman without a dog understands owners, noting that restrictions are hard for her parents. She acknowledges that poorly behaved dogs can cause problems and owners sometimes do not clean up. She prefers more dog access overall, suggesting it could boost tourism.
Gower beaches are different with their blue flag status, as dog restrictions are key for this award. Swansea beach has no blue flag.
The marina area grew after 1991. Dog walkers often ignored the rules then, so the council started stricter enforcement and gave over 60 fines in 2016. Fewer fines happen now because the council lacks an external enforcement team.
During COVID, the council had many questions. People asked about the dog rules, as dog owners and others wanted more action. A survey took place last summer asking about changing dog zones and about 4,188 people replied, mostly dog owners.
Seventy-seven percent wanted revised dog zones, and seventy-two percent wanted a different time frame. Some people wanted no change, worrying about dog mess and scared kids. Any changes need full council approval.
David Hopkins spoke about the proposal, noting that the prior survey gave helpful feedback. He said the plans let dog owners have more access, while dog-free areas remain for families. Swansea Bay allows these arrangements, so that people can visit the beach all year.