Plans to bar dogs from city water features and be kept on leads at cemeteries under new rules

Owners caught allowing dogs into the water at spots such as Tettenhall Pool or the fountain in Queen Square Wolverhampton will be guilty of an offence and could be fined under the strict new rules.

It will also become an offence to be in charge of a dog on public land without means of faeces collection and disposal; it will be a requirement for a person to give their name and address to an authorised officer when requested to do so and dogs will have to be on a lead at public cemeteries.

People in Wolverhampton are now being asked to give their views on proposed changes to the Public Spaces Protection Order, which is to be renewed on October 1.

An online public consultation has been launched on the council’s website and people are being invited to give their opinions on conditions for dog owners.

It is proposed that the majority of the existing measures will stay the same but some additional controls are planned.

Under the changes dogs will not be allowed in water features or facilities at council parks and open spaces, town centres, nature reserves and country parks. This will include formal features such as ornamental fountains, drinking fountains and ponds, features designated for children’s play such as pools and splash pads, as well as natural ponds designated as habitats for wildlife.

This order will include any sites which are subsequently transferred to the authority as part of any Land Transfer Agreement and any other water bodies.

These include open water sites at Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve, Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, West Park, Fowlers Park, Hickman Park, Bantock Park and Goodyear Community Park, which is to be transferred.

Other locations include Rocket Pool, Ladymoor, Hawkswell Drive, Stowheath Lane, Grapes Pool, Tettenhall Pool, Queen Square fountain and East Park splash pad, which will be installed later this year. St Peter’s Fountain, Old Hall Street and Wednesfield fountain are not operational at present.

Some requirements and prohibitions will not apply to assistance dogs. At Northycote Farm in Underhill Lane, Bushbury, dogs will be prohibited from the Old Events Field, whilst all other areas will remain the same.

Dogs will be required to be on leads in the following cemeteries: Bilston, Beacon Hill, Danescourt, Hall Green, Bushbury, Merridale and Penn. Members of the public have until April 21 to take part in the consultation.