Hartlepool renews dog-control and alley-gate orders for three years

Hartlepool’s dog-control and alley-gate Public Space Protection Orders have been renewed for another three years, keeping the existing rules in force from 18 October 2026.

The borough council’s Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services Committee approved every existing order at its meeting on 15 September. The published minutes record a clear decision to renew them, while the 2026 dog-control document hosted on the council’s consultation site states that the new term begins on 18 October.

What dog walkers must do

The renewed order keeps seven types of dog control. Across the borough, people must clean up after dogs, carry something suitable for doing so and follow a direction from an authorised officer to put a dog on a lead. One person may walk no more than four dogs at once.

Other restrictions apply only in specified or signposted places. Dogs must be kept on leads in designated areas, excluded from some locations and held on a lead no longer than 1.5 metres in cemeteries. The council’s schedules and maps identify where those location-specific rules apply.

The committee minutes also record officers’ reminder that dog-waste bags can be placed in ordinary litter bins. Residents were told to report continuing problems so that enforcement could be targeted. The council’s public guidance says breaching a PSPO may lead to a £100 fixed penalty notice or prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Why alley gates are covered

A separate order allows gates to remain across specified back alleys. The committee report explains that back alleys are legally part of the highway, so the gates need formal authorisation to obstruct access lawfully. Without renewal, the gates covered by the order would have needed to be left open.

The restrictions are intended to stop unauthorised pedestrians and vehicles entering gated areas and to reduce opportunities for antisocial behaviour. They apply only to the locations listed in the published schedule, not to every alley in Hartlepool.

Consultation backed continuation

The council received 298 responses to the dog-control consultation. Every schedule received majority support, including 96 per cent backing for the borough-wide fouling rule. Comments also called for stronger enforcement, more bins and changes to some controlled areas.

A further 99 responses were submitted on alley gates, with 98 per cent supporting renewal. The committee approved the existing orders as they stood. Suggested additions or removals were left for possible consideration later, so the September decision should not be read as introducing new dog-control areas.

An outdated council page

There is one important gap in the public information. As of 19 October, the council’s main PSPO webpage still labels both orders as valid only until 17 October 2026 and links to older documents. That conflicts with the committee decision and the 2026 order material now available through the consultation site.

The legal decision is recorded in the published minutes, but the council should update its main guidance page and clearly link the renewed orders and current schedules. Until that happens, residents checking only the main page may reasonably be unsure whether the rules remain active.

Dog walkers can use the council’s PSPO page to review the restrictions and maps, while questions or reports can be sent through its Community Safety contact form. The practical position is that the orders were approved for renewal without changes, with any future amendments requiring further consideration.