Off-lead dog ban 'will not happen' on popular beach
BBCThere will be no requirement for dogs to be kept on leads during the summer months on one of a county's most popular beaches, a councillor has said.
The idea of an off-lead ban had been raised by Beadnell parish councillor Alison Nation, prompting concerns from businesses about the impact it would have on Northumberland tourism.
Beadnell Parish Council has received over 350 emails about the idea, with only 20 in support, and about 100 people attended a meeting of the council on Wednesday.
But the Conservative county councillor for the area, Guy Renner-Thompson, told the meeting only Northumberland County Council had the powers to impose restrictions and "it won't be happening".
He said: "It is such an important part of the tourism economy.
"If you live in a town it's one of the few places you can let your dog off a lead and it would be a shame to lose that."
The idea of requiring dogs to be on leads had been raised at a previous meeting by Nation over dog-fouling concerns.
The meeting heard other councillors had "cautioned her against it", adding "she was not a spokeswoman for the council", but had agreed she could approach Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Coast National Landscapes for advice.
Her proposal that they ask dog wardens to come and observe the beach over the summer as an initial first step was not supported by the other councillors.
About two-thirds of properties in Beadnell are holiday lets or second homes and the village is one of Northumberland's most popular tourist destinations.
Rachel Douglas, who runs a holiday-let housekeeping business in Northumberland, said any restrictions would be "impossible to police".
"I would say 75% of our guests bring dogs, and the freedom on the beach is one of the reasons they come here," she added.
Donna Mulley, from Seahouses, attended the meeting having seen "the social media furore" about the issue.
"There's a strong feeling nationwide of people who holiday here and love it for the freedom their dogs get," she said.
"There are so few places left where dogs can run free, it's such a precious thing and one that needs protecting."
Most beaches in Northumberland are dog-friendly all year round, although the National Trust asks people to keep dogs on a short lead during the shore-breeding season.
The Long Nanny site on the beach between Beadnell and Low Newton is a nationally important breeding site for several species and has the largest mainland population of Arctic terns in the UK.
There are already seasonal bans on some sections of the beach at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Blyth.
