Brighton and Hove Council have announced plans to ban dogs from Brighton and Hove beaches for five months of the year.  If implemented, this will lead to the absurd situation of dog owners having to carry their pets into the sea.

These proposals have been met with widespread opposition from dog owners across the city, as well as charities, Celia Barlow MP and members of the Labour Group on the Council. 

Celia said:

 "I think this proposal is ill thought out and, if implemented, will penalise dog owners across the city.  Dogs promote interaction between individuals through fellow dog owners talking to each other whilst taking their dogs for walks and passers by will often stop to admire a friendly pooch. Many people in the city who don't own dogs get immense joy from the sight of dogs playing with each other and having fun on the beach and it would be a great shame to lose this.

Of course, the right for owners to take their dogs on the beach must be matched with the responsibility to keep pets under proper control and to clean up any mess. However a ban is not the answer and we must instead promote better education regarding responsible dog ownership and enforce existing laws more effectively".