Bridgend County Borough Council has approved an order introducing new dog control measures across the borough, following a 12-week public consultation. The new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will cover all public spaces within the borough after the previous order expired in 2022.
Under the new order, those in control of a dog will be required to collect and properly dispose of dog faeces. Owners will also need to carry suitable bags or other means of collecting faeces, and to put their dog on a lead when instructed to by an authorised officer, particularly where the dog is considered to be out of control or causing alarm or distress.
Fixed penalty and consultation results
A report presented to council bosses in September 2026 said anyone believed to have committed an offence under the new order could be given a fixed penalty of £100. The consultation began in March and received a total of 1,273 responses, with results overwhelmingly in favour of implementing the new PSPO, as 90.9% of respondents agreed.
Others raised comments about dog fouling on playing fields and sports pitches, highlighting concerns over children's safety and public health, as well as the ability of sports clubs and communities to make full use of the facilities. This comes just months after a rugby player from Tondu was admitted to hospital due to an infection caused by the pitch being contaminated with dog mess.
Council support for further measures
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Gary Haines said: "There was strong support for measures to tackle dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership, and calls for enforcement activity around this issue. The consultation demonstrates a high level of public engagement with the proposed PSPO relating to dog fouling and dog control. The findings provide the council with valuable evidence regarding public opinion on the proposed measures."
The new public order was approved unanimously by members in attendance. It came alongside permission for a further consultation on a separate order prohibiting dogs from specified areas due to the number of concerns over dog fouling on surfaces used by children and sports clubs.
The deputy leader of the council, councillor Jane Gebbie, said: "This is a sensible and proportionate next step to protect our playing fields while continuing to support responsible dog ownership across the county borough." Officers said they would be looking at which areas they should ban dogs from, such as formalised sports pitches and designated children's play areas, ahead of the consultation.
