Strict ban across UK beaches now in force that could see you slapped with £1,000 fine.. check which spots are exempt
Owners could face hefty fines of up to £1,000 if caught flouting the rules.
2
The dog bans took effect on May 1 and will remain in force until September.
The crackdown aims to keep beaches clean and safe during the busy summer season - but pet owners are being urged to check local rules.
Chris Maxted, director of retractable dog gate firm Dog-G8, explained: "Seasonal dog bans on UK beaches are a practical measure to protect water quality and maintain the Blue Flag status that many coastal areas value.
"Dog excrement and urine can have a significant impact on water quality, making it unsuitable for swimming.
"Public Spaces Protection Orders allow councils to enforce beach bans during peak seasons to reduce contamination from dog fouling.
"These rules aim to create a safer and cleaner environment for everyone, while making sure coastal waters remain suitable for bathing."
He added: "It's important for dog owners to check before visiting beaches, as the rules can vary significantly.
"Many beaches allow dogs from October 1 to April 30 but enforce restrictions from May to September under Public Space Protection Orders.
"Some areas will implement complete bans, while others impose partial bans, such as requiring dogs to be kept on leads or limiting them to promenades.
"Ignoring these rules can result in a £100 on-the-spot fine or, if escalated to court, a fine of up to £1,000."
Maxted pointed out that many beaches remain dog-friendly all year round.
He said: "Across England, many counties offer a variety of dog-friendly beaches all year round, with Devon leading the way with 79 locations.
"This gives dog owners plenty of opportunities to enjoy the coast with their pets without the worry of seasonal restrictions."
Guide dogs are exempt, but only if they're working, wearing a harness and on a lead.
Dog-friendly beach information can be found on local council websites.
The strict rules began in 2019, when Weymouth Beach first implemented the dog ban.
Although beaches in Wirral attempted to enforce a similar ban back in 2017, their efforts were unsuccessful.
The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) often runs from the start of May to September 30, during the busy tourist season.
The rules vary: some beaches enforce a full dog ban, while others allow dogs as long as they're kept on a leash at all times.
Certain beaches only impose restrictions during peak hours, such as from 10am to 6pm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
30 minutes ago
- Sky News
Heatwave set to peak with highs of more than 34C, with warning of potential rise in deaths
The third heatwave to hit the UK this summer is set to peak on Saturday, forecasters have said, with highs of more than 34C possible in some areas. Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of a potential rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Temperatures hit 34.7C at Astwood Bank, near Worcester, on Friday, according to the Met Office, with similar or even higher temperatures expected on Saturday. 2:17 "It might be plus or minus half a degree higher or lower (on Saturday), probably maybe a little bit higher, but that's going to be the peak as then temperatures start coming down a little bit through the second half of the weekend as low pressure slowly starts to edge in," meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said. Fire chiefs have warned people to stay safe, while cautioning of the increased risks of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, saying data from the water incident database shows over the last three years most drownings occurred in July. Although temperatures may peak on Saturday, it will remain "very warm" across the country on Sunday, the Met Office said. "We're probably looking at maximum temperatures around 30C, 31C degrees across central and southern England, but still widely across the whole UK, mid to high 20s," Mr Dewhurst said. "It could still get to around 29 or 30C across southeast England on Monday, and then everyone into the fresher air by Tuesday, temperatures more like 23C, 24C as the maximum temperature." In addition to the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency also has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber. On Friday Yorkshire Water brought in hosepipe restrictions, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of further dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. It means customers in Kent and Sussex are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pool or ponds or to clean paths, walls or windows, with anyone ignoring the ban potentially facing fines of up to £1,000.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
England's reservoirs at lowest level for a decade as experts call for hosepipe bans
England's reservoirs are at their lowest levels for a decade, new data reveals, as experts urge water companies to immediately put hosepipe bans in place. In June, reservoirs across the country were 76% full, which is below their level in the severe drought year of 2022 when they were at 77% capacity at this time in the summer. Levels continue to drop dramatically as the hot weather has caused an increased demand for water and there has been very little rain to refill reservoirs. Experts have warned water companies to implement hosepipe bans across the country. Dr Jess Neumann, an associate professor in hydrology at the University of Reading, said: 'Following an unseasonably dry spring reservoir levels across parts of the country are falling to critically low levels. 'Water companies need to be proactive. Hosepipe bans can save 3%-7% of daily water use as long as the public are onboard with the need to conserve water. Hosepipe bans have the additional advantage of increasing awareness of water scarcity and stress amongst communities, further encouraging mindful water use.' Dr Jonathan Paul, from the department of Earth sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, added: 'Reservoir levels are directly linked to rainfall, so local restrictions on water use (like hosepipe bans) might be necessary to stabilise them.' Yorkshire Water this week introduced hosepipe restrictions after the region recorded its driest spring in 132 years. South East Water on Friday also announced a hosepipe ban for more than one million people in Kent and Sussex. Water bosses have been reluctant to implement hosepipe bans because it affects customer satisfaction ratings, sources at the government's national drought group have told the Guardian. These ratings, collected by the regulator, contribute to a water company's performance report. Sources at the drought group, which convenes regularly to discuss the response to droughts, said the companies were waiting 'until the very last moment' to put bans in place. Rivers are at low levels already, and further abstraction could risk environmental damage. Environment Agency officials have been advising the environment secretary, Steve Reed, on whether water company drought plans are sufficient. They said water companies should follow their drought plans and hosepipe bans should be in place prior to any permits for extra river abstraction, and in place long enough to have the opportunity to have a measurable impact on reducing customer demand. In some areas of the country where no hosepipe bans are in place, farmers have been severely restricted from irrigating their land. The National Farmers' Union president, Tom Bradshaw, has said this was 'risking food production', particularly in East Anglia where many farms are based. The county had exceptionally low rainfall this spring, the third lowest on record since 1871, with reservoir and groundwater levels dropping. There is no hosepipe ban in place for residents, yet farmers have been struggling to water their crops. Bradshaw told the Guardian: 'Abstraction bans have already been implemented in Norfolk with no prior engagement or warning. It seems ridiculous when there is no official drought or hosepipe ban.' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The regions at most risk of running out of water at the moment are those which rely largely on reservoirs rather than groundwater. The wet autumn and winter of 2024-25 allowed the country's aquifers – the water below ground – to recharge, so parts of the south-east, where the soil is chalk and the aquifers recharge more rapidly, are in a better position than those in the Midlands and north. However, more dry weather could cause aquifer levels to begin to dwindle as well, and groundwater levels are already below normal across much of the country. The most recent outlook from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology says: 'The outlook for July indicates that groundwater levels are likely to remain normal to below normal across most areas, with notably or exceptionally low levels expected to persist in some areas.' Neumann added: 'Pressures on water supply are not limited to UK regions principally reliant on reservoirs, but are also impacting areas where supply is fed from groundwater sources such as the central and south east. This is concerning as groundwater stores are not as quickly replenished [as rivers and reservoirs] when the rains do eventually come.' The prolonged dry spring and summer coupled with hot weather, which increases consumer water use, has caused reservoir levels in midland and northern areas of the country to drop dramatically. Severn Trent's reservoir levels have dropped from 83.5% on 23 May to 71.1% on 30 June, while United Utilities reservoir levels are currently at 65% when last year at this time they were at 84.5%. Yorkshire's reservoirs are at 55.8%, down more than a quarter on what they would normally be at this time of year. Last year the government and water companies announced proposals to build nine new reservoirs by 2050. No major reservoirs have been completed in England since 1992, shortly after the water sector was privatised. A Water UK spokesperson said: 'Water companies do everything possible to avoid restrictions on customers, including by moving water around their region and surging activity on leakage. However, when government-mandated trigger levels are reached then unfortunately a temporary use ban needs to be imposed.' A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: 'Rapid population growth, crumbling infrastructure and a warming climate mean without urgent action, Britain could run out of drinking water. We have taken swift and decisive action to secure £104bn of private sector investment to build nine reservoirs and new pipes to cut leaks.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
UK weather: heatwave spreads to Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland and Scotland will see temperatures soar as the UK's third heatwave of the year spreads across the country. Scotland is likely to see its warmest day of the year with temperatures of up to 31C. Northern Ireland could potentially the mercury rise above 29.5C - the highest recorded temperature so far this England and Wales, temperatures are expected to be widely in the high 20s to low 30s with the south-west Midlands and south-east Wales predicted to see the hottest for eastern parts of England, an easterly breeze will bring slightly cooler temperatures though most areas will still meet heatwave thresholds. How to sleep in the heatWhat are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?What should you look for when choosing sunscreen?What does hot weather do to the body? On Friday, Astwood Bank in the West Midlands recorded the highest temperature of heat health alerts for southern England, the Midlands, and East Anglia will remain in place until Monday, the UK Health Security Agency severe yellow warnings remain in place for northern England, while Scotland and Northern Ireland face warnings of wildfires on Saturday and weather alerts are issued during periods that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, and those with existing health alerts are issued in situations that could put the whole population at the thousands expected to attend the Wimbledon finals this weekend, temperatures in south-west London will remain high on Saturday and are expected to reach 30C, possibly 32C in some areas, according the Met will see a slight dip to 29C in daytime highs, but the heat will remain with a chance of some places around London seeing 30C or above. This year, Wimbledon has faced some of the hottest temperatures in its 148-year history and has a heat rule in place for all singles men's singles semi-final on Friday between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz was stopped twice in less than five minutes due to fans in the crowd requiring medical on Centre Court reached a sweltering 32C on organisers have added more free water refill points on the grounds and increased reminders for fans to take sun precautions and seek shade. Fire chiefs have also warned people of the increased risk of drowning when trying to keep cool, urging parents to supervise their children at all times around the and hot conditions also make wildfires a crucial concern, with the risk currently rated at "severe" in London by the Natural Hazards Partnership."Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. That's why we're asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly," the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) chairman Phil Garrigan Rail has warned commuters of possible disruption to travel this weekend as overhead power lines and rails could be affected by the heat. On Friday, more than seven million people across England and Wales were affected by hosepipe bans, restricting activities including watering of gardens, cleaning cars and filling paddling heatwave will be over for most on Monday as cooler Atlantic air spreads, bringing cloud and some showers to northern and western warn that extreme weather conditions are made more likely as a result of manmade climate change.
