'We want to keep our Blue Flag' - Owners support dog ban on Lincolnshire coast

Dog owners on the Lincolnshire coast have supported a renewed protection order which prevents dogs from accessing the beaches during summer months. East Lindsey District Council recently agreed to renew the Public Space Protection Order for its Blue Flag beaches at Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea until 2027.

The rule restricts dogs from accessing the beaches during the summer months, from May 1 to September 30 each year. The ban has also been amended to cover the whole Blue Flag areas. Anyone found with their dog(s) on the beaches during this time could be fined up to £1,000.

The order will require dogs to be on a lead and kept on the promenades during the summer time period. Dogs are also permanently banned from any fully enclosed children's play areas with play equipment, as well as the paddling pools in the three towns.

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Residents in Mablethorpe are fully behind the ban, hoping it can preserve their "beautiful" beach and help to keep its Blue Flag status. Catherine Darlaston, who has lived in the town for seven and a half years, said: "From this gate [Seaholme Road] up to the next gate, which is where the bulk of the tourists go in the summer, it's an absolutely gorgeous beach. It's beautiful and I agree that dogs should not go on it.

"I'm quite happy with that. I just go the other way towards Sutton. Do we want the tourists to come and keep the town alive? We do, so we need to protect what people come for. The beaches are why we moved up here when we did."

George and Chris Russell have lived in Mablethorpe for eight years. George said: "I don't think there's any problem with it whatsoever, you've got to respect it. We want to keep it as a Blue Flag. There are still plenty of areas you can go with your dogs if you like.

"It's so nice to walk along the promenade. The ban has been in place since we've been here. The only thing I'd like to see more of is dog owners that clear up after their dog."

While she agreed, Chris added: "They do need better signage for where the dogs can and can't go as it's not very clear."

Another dog owner, Gordon Coupe, said: "I only tend to walk on the promenade but you tend to get holidaymakers thinking they can do what they want and let their dogs run all over the beach. I think it's good to keep them off and keep it nice." A consultation was conducted throughout September by ELDC, asking residents for their views on the matter.

Councillor Martin Foster, portfolio holder for operational service at ELDC, said: "The new order, whilst maintaining the current dog controls—requiring owners to remove dog fouling left by their pet, ensuring dog owners have the means to remove fouling, restricting dogs from fenced play areas and paddling pools, and imposing seasonal dog bans on our Blue Flag beaches—will also amend the size of the dog ban areas to match the Blue Flag Award areas."