Decision time tomorrow as councillors to consider banning dogs from play parks

A recommendation has been made to approve a consultation exercise on plans to ban dogs from almost 100 children’s play parks across the borough.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s environment services committee is due to meet in Armagh on Tuesday evening to discuss the matter.

Councillors are being urged to approve an approach to implementing Dog Control Orders – including the consultation on The Exclusion of Dogs from Land (Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council) Number 1 Order 2017.

As reported by Armagh I at the time, this issue came before committee in September and there has been considerable discussion in relation to it.

Following preliminary discussions then, it was agreed that further work would begin to develop proposed order(s) that would exclude dogs from “sensitive areas” such as council playing pitches, sports grounds and children’s play parks.

The move at this time would be in relation to play parks – a total of 94 of them to be exact!

Further “considerable scoping” would be required at officer level before legislation is introduced in relation to pitches and sports grounds – including multi-use games areas – with this likely to be considered under a second possible future order.

Councillors have been told: “Areas of land to consider would be, for example, areas that are used by families and where the exclusion of dogs may be beneficial due to potential safety and health reasons such as from children’s play areas

“Offences are commonly dealt with by means of the issue of a fixed penalty notice with a fine imposed of £80. Failure to pay a fixed penalty notice will result in court proceedings where the maximum fine is £1000.

“In relation to this Order, the offence is permitting a dog to enter land in respect of which a Dogs Exclusion Order applies.”

A schedule of areas from which dogs would be banned has been drawn up and will also go to council.

If the committee agrees – and that will also then be subject to full council approval at the end of November – there would be a four-week period of public consultation, after the proposal is publicly advertised.

Ratepayers will have the chance to have their say – in writing or via email – and council will have to then decide whether or not to proceed. New signage will be required to be bought and put in place if the order is approved.

In all, 94 play areas across the borough would be covered under the new order.

The majority of these – 38 – are within the former Craigavon Council area, with 30 in the old Banbridge Council area and 24 under Armagh City and District.

The full list is as follows:

Armagh

Alexander Park, Armagh; Annahugh–Ballyhegan, Loughgall; Blackwatertown, Avonmore Estate; Broomhill; Drumnahuncheon; Cathedral Road, Armagh; Clady, Mourneview Park; Darkely Primary School; Drumbreda, Armagh; Gosford Forest Park; Hamiltonsbawn Primary School; Keady Glen; Killylea; Kingston Memorial, Armagh – more commonly the Mill Field; Laurelvale, The Pond; Loughgall Country Park; Markethill, Seaboughan Road; Middletown, Ivy Park; Milford; Mountnorris Community Centre; Mullaghbrack; Navan Centre; Neills Villas, Loughgilly; Richhill, Newline; Tandragee Recreation Centre; The Palace Demesne; Tullysaran, Milltown, Road, Benburb.

Portadown

Abercorn Park, Killicomaine; Ashgrove Community Centre, Garvaghy Road; Brownstown Park; Brownstown West; Drumilly Green, Corcrain; Edenvilla Park, Bachelors Walk; Edgarstown, Union Street; Killicomaine Community Centre; Loughview Terrace, Milltown, Derrytrasna; Maghery (inc Coney), Maghery Road; People’s Park; Pleasure Gardens, Bridge St; Rectory Park; Scotch Street.

Banbridge

Ashfield, Dromore; Castle Hill, Gilford; Cline Park, Banbridge; Corbet Lake Play Area; Cross Heights, Rathfriland; Dromore Town Park; Ervine Park, Kinallen; Fraser Park, Annaclone, Rathfriland; Hillside Crecent, Banbridge; Huntly Park at River walk; Kane Terrace, Kinallen Katesbridge picnic and play area; Knock Terrace, Rathfriland, Laurencetown, Gilford; Lenaderg, Banbridge; Lissize Park, Rathfriland; Locard Park, Tullylish, Gilford; Loughbrickland Park; McCandless Terrace, Dromara; Millstone Close, Banbridge; Mossvale, Dromore; Mount Charles, Banbridge; Mourneview, Banbridge; Parkhill/Fairview, Dromore; Scarva Park; Seapatrick, Banbridge; Solitude Park; Thornhill, Dromore; Tullylish, Gilford; Woodlands, Gilford.

Craigavon

Ardowen, Monbrief; Brownlow Hub; Clonmeen; Cranny Terrace, Bleary; Drumgor; Gibsons Hill, Gilford Road; Parkmore; Pinebank/Carrigart; Silverwood Golf Club; Tannaghmore Gardens; Watsonville, Bleary; Wolf Island Terrace, Derrymacash.

 

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