Dogs are allowed back on Swanage’s Main Beach as the summer season has come to an end.
Owners can now walk their dogs on or off a lead on the beach from Thursday, 1st October 2020 until the end of April 2021.
Changes in spring due to coronavirus
Dogs are usually not allowed on Swanage Beach from 1st May until the end of September in most years.
However, the rule was not initially enforced this year to allow dog walkers more space to social distance under coronavirus measures.
The relaxation ended towards the end of May 2020 as the government began to ease lockdown restrictions.
Public consultation
In September 2020, the results of a Dorset Council survey on allowing dogs on Swanage’s Main Beach were published.
It found that 60 percent of people favoured keeping the summer ban, and 59 percent supported continuing to allow dogs off leads in the winter season, which showed that most people were in favour of keeping the rules unchanged.
This survey was conducted in order for residents to be canvassed for their views before the introduction of a new Public Spaces Protection Order about dogs in public spaces in Dorset.
The recommendations of the report will be discussed by the cabinet of Dorset Council on Tuesday, 6th October 2020.
