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CornwallLive readers are interested to hear that residents are being invited to share their opinions on when dogs should be allowed on beaches. The current Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) restricts dogs from 46 beaches across the Duchy during certain times in the summer months. On most beaches covered by the order, dogs are not permitted between 10am and 6pm from July 1 to August 31.

Cornwall Council is proposing to keep the same restrictions for the next three years and is asking residents for feedback. Beaches with Blue Flag or Seaside Award status have longer restrictions, starting on 15 May and ending on 30 September. In addition, three protected wildlife areas around the Hayle estuary do not allow dogs at any time.

Residents and visitors can share their views on the council's proposal through the Let's Talk Cornwall website. Councillor Thalia Marrington, cabinet member responsible for community safety and public protection at Cornwall Council, said: "This is all about getting the right balance and making sure that everyone can enjoy our beautiful beaches."

The current rules allow dog owners to take their pets for walks early in the morning and in the evening. They also give people who prefer dog-free beaches the reassurance of knowing when restrictions are in place. "This consultation is an opportunity for people to have their say and tell us if the current rules are working for them. The feedback will help us shape the next Public Space Protection Order for 2026 to 2028," Marrington added.

During the summer months, Cornwall Council's dog welfare enforcement officers and civil enforcement officers, along with some town and parish council officers, patrol beaches to ensure compliance with the order. Anyone found with a dog on a beach during restricted times will be asked to leave. If they fail to comply, they can be issued a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice. Have your say here.

Commenter Cornwall Amigo thinks: "Dogs should always be allowed. But anyone who fails to pick up should be fined £2000."

Baggyboatee suggests: "Leave the restrictions as they are as dogs deserve to be on a beach as much as anyone else. They are here to stay and well loved members of families and should join their families on their walks. Individual incidents should be treated separately with misbehaving dogs or owners, but get rid of the blanket anti dog stigma. I haven't actually got a dog but I love seeing them out and about enjoying their walks."

Colinfromcornwall disagrees: "Council understands the health issues and prohibits dogs from children's play areas, Councils ban dogs from grass roots areas marked sport pitches and yet not from busy beaches especially throughout the summer. Surely doggy people understand the anti-social side of all this: unsightly, unpleasant, smelly and being a health risk to people using the beaches for recreation. Why should the people enjoying the coast and the countryside have to walk and sit in a dog toilet? The council lifted the 6 month dog ban from beaches promoting more tourism for the county and now realising from the reviews that it's now driving the tourists away, just far too many dogs with all the obvious consequences. Ban dogs from all beaches from March to November."

Solway DG adds: "As someone who was attacked by a dog when a child, a dog free space is very welcome. Whilst some dogs are well controlled, many are not and let the dog owning community down. There needs to be a mix of beaches where some have bans."

Sc-12 says: "I think the restrictions in the summer are fine, not many dogs would want to be baking on the beach in the heat anyway. But in the autumn and winter just let them be, it's not the dogs fault anyway it's the owners that don't watch them and don't pick up after them. Maybe pay some people to walk the beaches and hand out fines (and a poop bag) for people that don't pick it up?"

Murmur is not in favour: "Dogs should be banned from all beaches and why people think it's OK to take them into eating areas is behind me. People don't want your unhygienic smelly dogs next to them when they are eating!"

Moodyb agrees: "Not everyone likes dogs. The risk assessment that must be undertaken by Cornwall CC should show that dogs are aggressive, attack, urinate and poo. That should be enough to ban dogs from all areas where people want to be safe and not be in threat regarding their health. Why should I suffer mucky paws on my clean clothes or be threatened when I walk on the beaches or the Coast Path? Wake up Cornwall Council and protect people."

Paul616 points out: "BBQs, Bodyboards, camping chairs and general rubbish left behind, sea debris washing up. It's not the dogs that are the issue."

Michael Hoskins agrees: "In my home town, we have two beaches. During the summer months half of each beach has a dog ban. This means people have a choice of which section to use. Seems to work well. Just to add, local litter pickers did a day on each beach at the end of the summer and collected 13 black bin bags of human rubbish & plastic and only 7 standard dog poo bags! Who should be banned for not picking up their mess?!"

Dogs on the beach, a joy for pet owners or a nuisance for others? Do you think they should be banned during the summer, or allowed all year round? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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'Dogs deserve to be there' as public given say on beach bans