More of the beach will be available for people to walk their dogs on from next year. Cabinet members approved the change after most residents who responded to a public consultation ‘strongly supported’ it.
On Tuesday 26 November 2024, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet examined the results of a recent consultation looking at current restrictions on dogs at Southsea and Eastney, which attracted 4,638 responses.
The Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) which govern the beach restrictions run out in January, so an eight-week consultation was held to ask people if changes were needed.
One of the consultation questions asked if the seasonal restriction zone – which currently stretches from Southsea Castle to the Royal Marine Yomper statue and bans dogs between 30 April to 30 September – should be reduced in size.
In total, 61% of all those who responded said they ‘strongly agree’ with moving the eastern boundary from the yomper statue to the Coffee Cup at Eastney, to increase the area dogs are allowed. Even amongst non-dog owners, less than half were ‘strongly against’. People commented that the Coffee Cup would provide a more visible boundary, as the Yomper statue isn’t easily seen from the beach.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:
“On the survey responses, there is a very clear overall majority in favour of the proposal to move the boundary to the Coffee Cup.
“We will therefore be making the change from next year, in line with the survey results. New signage will go on the beach, and we will monitor the effectiveness of the new boundary with CCTV cameras.”
A second survey question asked if dog walking should be allowed on all areas of the beach all year round, but with timed restrictions, such as early morning or the evening outside of bathing times. This option had less support, particularly amongst non-dog owners, with 53% ‘strongly against’.
Cabinet members also raised the difficulty of enforcing any infringements along the whole seafront. As the change would make Portsmouth the only coastal local authority in the region to have year round access, it could attract visitors solely for that reason and upset the current balance of beach usage.
Cllr Pitt said:
“We therefore reject the option to allow time limited beach access for dog walkers beyond the areas already designated under the existing PSPO at this time.
“Dog walkers will still be able to access the area of Eastney beach, now to be located east of the Coffee Cup. Once the new sea defences open between Blue Reef and Hovertravel, there will be access for dog walkers there and both these areas will be available all year round.
“The Hotwalls and the area between Southsea Castle and the Coffee Cup will remain a dog exclusion zone as it is currently.”
Cabinet also approved trialling a seafront patrol for the 2025 bathing season to help people understand where dogs can and can’t be walked.