A suggestion to alter times dogs are allowed on Tenby’s beaches during the seasonal ban has been touted by a town councillor.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s bye-laws prohibiting dogs from areas of certain beaches across the county exists primarily to protect the interests of bathers during the summer season, with the restrictions in force between May 1 until September 30.

As from October 1 dogs are once more welcome on the beaches.

Bans in other seaside resorts across the UK, such as Cornwall, only have restrictions on beaches between ‘peak times’ such as between 10 am and 6 pm.

In Tenby there is a partial ban on dogs on the South Beach, with pooches allowed on the sands from Salty’s Beach Bar heading right towards the Penally end.

The ban also applies to Castle Beach, although dogs are permitted to enter the walkway to access the Caldey boat trips.

On Tenby North (to include harbour beach), the restriction covers the whole of the beach, apart from the area surrounding the lifeboat stations, when the tide is out.

Dogs must also be kept on a lead in the harbour, promenade and North Walk areas too. Guide dogs are of course welcome on Pembrokeshire’s beaches all year round.

There are notice boards on all of the dog restricted beaches above, with full details of the bylaws and maps of the restricted areas, and during the summer months, there are signs out on the beach, which help you identify the start and end of a dog restriction area or you can ask one of the RNLI lifeguards patrolling the beaches.

According to the County Council’s website - ‘leisure staff’ are tasked with enforcing these bans throughout the summer months.

During a discussion relating to a lack of enforcement by authorities on certain issues during a recent meeting of Tenby town council, Clr. Paul Rapi told his colleagues that more ‘control’ needed to be displayed by the local authority

“We have many rules, no dogs on beaches, no camper vans in car parks etc but there is no County Council backing to enforce,” he remarked

“Every day there are dogs on North Beach, camper vans in the South Beach car park. If you make rules they need to be enforced!”

The town clerk felt it was evident from comments made that one of the town council’s immediate priorities appeared to be to increase engagement with the various agencies to discuss matters of concern.

Clr. Duncan Whitehurst wondered if an idea to amend the times dogs were allowed on beaches could be considered, stating that rather than a total prohibition from May to October, just have ‘dog free’ times.

He suggested this could assist many more elderly dog walkers in the north of the town who liked to walk their dogs on the beaches but the area of South Beach where dogs can go was too far.

Clr. Whitehurst felt that the loss of the Blue Flag on the North Beach may present an opportunity to look at things differently.