Shepway Council's Dog Beach Ban Crackdown

Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets off beaches where a dog beach ban is in force. Dogs are banned from seven local beaches between 1 May and 30 September but Shepway Council has received lots of complaints about owners flouting the ban.

Beaches where the ban is in force are clearly marked and the council's team of Environmental Community Officers will be out and about on local beaches this month to check that the bylaw is being observed. They will take the names and addresses of owners flouting the bylaw with a view to prosecution. Owners could face a fine of up to £500.

The seven beaches where a dog beach ban is in place are: Folkestone, Sunny Sands; Sandgate: Sea Road to Sandgate Castle; Hythe: Twiss Road to St Leonard's Road; Dymchurch: Sycamore Gardens to Martello Car Park. St Mary's Bay: The Fairway to river outfall at the site of the Sands Motel. Littlestone: water tower at Madeira Road to Clark Road. Greatstone: Jolly Fisherman car park to Seaview Road.

The Environmental Community Officers will also be enforcing dog fouling and litter regulations.