ABERAVON: Dogs could get more of the beach back, but be kept on leads on the prom all year

Dog owners could win back more of the beach at Aberavon next summer, but would have to keep their dogs on leads along the promenade all year round.

Officers at Neath Port Talbot Council favour shrinking the summer dog-free zone on the beach, while keeping restrictions around the main bathing and visitor area.

They also back extending the promenade’s dogs-on-leads rule, which runs from 1 May to 30 September, to the whole year.

Both options are in a report to the council’s Visible Services and Streetscene Scrutiny Committee on Friday 13 November. A final decision is due at cabinet on Wednesday 2 December.

2,191 responses, and a big split between dog owners and everyone else

The consultation launched in June drew 2,191 responses, more than three times the 688 the council received in 2023.

Overall, 64 per cent of respondents were against bringing back the existing beach exclusion, while 36 per cent supported it, according to the council.

Owners and non-owners were far apart. Around 17 per cent of dog owners supported the beach order, compared with about 80 per cent of people without a dog.

Dog owners made up around 70 per cent of those who took part, the council says.

There was strong support for keeping dogs on leads on the promenade, including for the rule to apply all year round, officers say.

Four options for the beach, and the Blue Flag question

Councillors will weigh four options for the beach: keep the current exclusion area, shrink it, scrap it altogether, or allow dogs on at particular times.

Officers say shrinking it gives “a workable balance” between more beach for dog owners and a defined dog-free area during the bathing season.

It would also let the council keep chasing Blue Flag status for the beach, officers say, as long as water quality stays at the required standard and the other criteria are met.

When the consultation opened, the council said Keep Wales Tidy had told it a full dog restriction was needed for Blue Flag, ruling out a timed option such as 9am to 6pm.

RSPCA Cymru used its response to urge councils to give dog owners “greater flexibility”. It warned that blanket exclusions risk punishing responsible owners for the actions of the less responsible.

What happens next for the beach and promenade

For the promenade, the choice is between keeping the summer-only lead rule and extending it through the year. Officers call the year-round rule “a workable and proportionate option” in light of the consultation.

The current orders, in place since 2017, run out on 5 March 2027. Whatever councillors choose would apply for three years, from 2027 to 2029.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.