Councillors have approved a proposal to renew an important Public Spaces Protection Order for specific areas of the district.

Under the order, dogs are required to be kept on a lead in cemeteries, graveyards, churchyards and burial grounds, or areas signed as “dog on a lead.” The order also covers the car parks and play/picnic area at Fosse Meadows Country Park in Sharnford.

The requirement for dogs to be on a lead in specific areas of Fosse Meadows is in response to complaints received by the Council, including those of dogs jumping out of cars. Keeping a dog on a lead in Fosse Meadows car park reduces the risk of an incident between a dog and a moving vehicle.

Owners who fail to keep their dogs on a lead in these areas can be given a fixed penalty notice of £100.

First introduced in 2016, the order was renewed in November 2019, and the Council is now extending this from November 2022 for another three years. A consultation on the proposed extension of the order was held throughout August.