00:00Birchington residents might usually look forward towards the end of September
00:03when some dog restrictions on beaches start to lift.
00:07But Dannet District Council is considering further dog bans across the town.
00:12Now, restrictions for dogs already exist on Mini Spear.
00:15You cannot have your dog on the beach between the 1st of May and the 30th of September.
00:21If you want to walk your dog, you have to go further along the beach, behind that groin.
00:27But now, further restrictions might come into play further down the beach.
00:31Banning dogs all times of the year, even when they're on their leads.
00:35From Cold Harbour to Plum Pudding.
00:38Right along the northern sea wall, which you can see just behind me.
00:41And the main question that dog walkers have for the council is why?
00:48The council explained that the proposals banning dogs on the beaches between Cold Harbour and Plum Pudding nature reserves
00:55as well as keeping dogs on leads along the northern sea wall
00:59are to mitigate disturbance to wintering and breeding birds after wildlife has been disturbed before.
01:06Yet residents don't feel that's fair.
01:09I mean, you know, if it's the law then, you know, we would have to do it.
01:12But I don't think many people would be happy about it.
01:14I've been walking Bluebell for a long time along these walks.
01:18And I'm normally out early in the morning.
01:21And there's not many people about.
01:23I'd have said the cyclists were more of a danger to the birds.
01:26I think it would be a shame.
01:27I mean, it seems to be a sledgehammer to crack a nut really.
01:30We're not hurting no one and we're clearing up after ourselves.
01:34Dogs were here before the environment agency and the council put these two lagoons in.
01:41Dogs continue to be allowed all year round on beaches either side of Minis Bay.
01:46Though Nikki Groom, owner of a local dog training business,
01:50throws it down to owners to ensure that their dogs behave responsibly.
01:55I can understand the concern because the birds do need to rest during their migration.
01:59We're so lucky to have such an area full of wildlife
02:03and we should be appreciating the wildlife that's here.
02:06Our training is based a lot on impulse control and educating, again educating the humans and the owners
02:12to teach their dogs ways that they don't chase those birds.
02:16I don't agree with the ban itself, no.
02:19I do agree that the dog walkers and owners should be more responsible.
02:24So if they don't have a recall then they shouldn't be off lead at all.
02:27The consultation is open until the 9th of October,
02:30so residents can continue to walk their dogs on these sites for now.
02:34But were this PSBO to be approved,
02:37Thanet District Council might soon be seeing these dog walkers bite.
02:41Megan Shaw in Birchington on sea.
