Dogs on Leads

South Derbyshire offers some stunning areas for dogs to be given the freedom to run, explore and play off the lead.

However, there are areas in which dogs must be kept on leads.

In light of this, South Derbyshire District Council has received a number of complaints about dog walkers not complying with the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) at Melbourne Sports Centre, Cockshut Lane.

To comply with the PSPO, all dog walkers must keep their pets on a lead when walking them on the grounds and the curtilage of the sports centre.

The Council has reinforced signage around Melbourne Sports Centre to help stress this message as well as increasing patrols around the area.

A spokesperson for South Derbyshire District Council said:

“Under the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), if a person admits to not having their dog on a lead, they will have the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty notice of £100. This fine can also be reduced to £75 on early payment.

“If dog owners do not admit to the offence, then we would look at taking them to court for prosecution. If found guilty in court, the dog owner can be fined up to £1,000.

“We take pride in ensuring that residents from across the District are able to enjoy open spaces in South Derbyshire.”

5 June 2018