A DECISION on whether to reintroduce a ban on dogs on Minehead beach and in other public areas of the town was this week still in abeyance more than three months after the closure of a consultation exercise.

More than 500 people took part in a public consultation last year on whether Somerset Council should introduce a new three-year ban.

It would mean putting in a place a new public space protection order (PSPO) which would also cover a number of other West Somerset communities.

A previous prohibition of dogs on the beach in Minehead expired in 2019 but the then-Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) forgot to renew it.

However, the signage remained in place and nobody realised the ban could no longer be enforced until it was questioned early last year.

Somerset Council, which replaced SWT and the county’s three other districts last April, said it had still not analysed the comments made by people during the consultation which closed last October.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are unable to comment on what any PSPO might look like for the West Somerset area.

“Any decision would have to made by full council and it is likely that it will be considered as a joint report with the Somerset North area who have also carried out a similar consultation for their existing PSPO.”

Previously, dogs were banned from parts of Minehead beach during the tourism season and all-year-round in the town’s Blenheim Gardens.

The consultation last year asked for views not just on the beach and Blenheim gardens but also recreation grounds and children’s play areas across Minehead.

Other communities where a ban might be enforced included Brushford, Carhampton, Dunster, Crowcombe, Watchet, Timberscombe, Washford, Porlock, Williton, Wheddon Cross, Withycombe, and Dulverton.

PSPOs covering dog fouling and dog control are enforceable under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

They require anybody who is in charge of a dog to pick up faeces after the animal fouls and properly dispose of it and also prohibit taking dogs into enclosed sports facilities and children’s play areas.