DOG owners gathered once again to express their discontent over the proposed ban on pets at beaches between Rhos-on-Sea and Colwyn Bay.

In a show of unity and determination, rally-goers participated in a mass walk on Sunday, October 15. There were some creative placards once again with the wording: 'Paws for Thought' and 'The Beach Is For All Not Just The Few.'

Organiser Aaron Haggas, a dog walker from Rhos on Sea, who arranged this protest and the last walking protest, said attendance once again reached about the 2,000 mark. 

North Wales Pioneer: 'Paws for thought' and 'It's our beach too' - People attended the protest with a variety of different handmade placards'Paws for thought' and 'It's our beach too' - People attended the protest with a variety of different handmade placards (Image: Image submitted by Aaron Haggas)
Aaron said: "It was a beautiful day. It was a really good turn out again, I think about 2,000 people, and the dogs behaved impeccably. You can never predict how dogs are going to behave.

North Wales Pioneer: Protestors got creative with their placards.Protestors got creative with their placards. (Image: Image submitted by Aaron Haggas)
"People were positive and attended with a constructive mindset. We all want the beaches to remain a shared space. We can work to season restrictions but not to keeping dogs on leads, it is cruel. The beach is the safest place for dogs to go on a lead. 

"We are willing to compromise and work with seasonal restrictions."

Prior to the walk, dog owners met at the tourist information office in Rhos-on-Sea. The walk along the beach, to the truncated pier in Colwyn Bay, started at 2pm. 

North Wales Pioneer: The walk started in Rhos on Sea and went to the The truncated Victoria pier in Colwyn Bay.The walk started in Rhos on Sea and went to the The truncated Victoria pier in Colwyn Bay. (Image: Image submitted by Aaron Haggas)
More than 2,300 people flocked to previous 'mass walk' on Sunday, September 10.

The protests have been in response to  Conwy County Borough Council wanting to extend a current 'Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order' for the county [that expired in October] and add three new areas - the dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea, Rhos Point to the Promenade Access Point in line with College Avenue and Penmachno Playing Field. 

The local authority launched a consultation [now closed] on the control of dogs in public places. The current Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) 2020 is in place until October 2023, when the proposed new draft Order would come into force.

The current Order includes: Dog Exclusion Zones (e.g. beaches, playing fields); Dog Fouling and means to pick up; Dogs on Leads and Dogs on Leads when asked by an authorised officer.

North Wales Pioneer: Protesters with their placards: 'Freedom of the Beach' and 'The Beach is For All Not Just The Few'Protesters with their placards: 'Freedom of the Beach' and 'The Beach is For All Not Just The Few' (Image: Aaron Haggas)
Conwy County Borough Council's Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee will meet at on Tuesday, October 17 at 5.30pm to consider a report on the Proposed Dog Control Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

RELATED STORIES

Aaron will be speaking at the meeting, which takes place in Bodlondeb.

North Wales Pioneer: The protest once again attracted mass supporters. Aaron Haggas estimated about 2,000 attended the mass walk.The protest once again attracted mass supporters. Aaron Haggas estimated about 2,000 attended the mass walk. (Image: Aaron Haggas)
"About 6,000 people responded to the consultation and officers had to deal with about 500 emails, so there was a big response which shows the strength of feeling," Aaron said. 

"I had to apply to attend the meeting on Tuesday to speak and hopefully there will be a good turn out in the public gallery.

"It shows we are committed to this cause and we care about this and the process."