Reigate Council Launches Public Consultation on Dog Walking PSPO Regulations

The consultation opened on 17 August and addresses whether existing controls should be continued, modified, or stopped — and whether three additional play areas should be brought under the order. For professional dog walkers operating in or routing through the borough, this is a direct operational variable, not background noise.

The current PSPO framework

The dog PSPOs in Reigate and Banstead have been in force for six years, with the last formal review completed in 2023. They establish baseline control requirements across the borough and impose tighter rules on designated zones: parks, commons, play areas, and sports facilities. Enforcement sits jointly with police and council officers, both authorised to issue fixed penalty notices where they reasonably believe a dog is in breach. Councillor Hannah Avery, executive member for neighbourhood services, framed the review as a question of balance between competing public-space users.

What the consultation actually proposes

Four items sit on the table:

• Continuation of the existing dog PSPOs in their current form.
• Modification of scope, geography, or specific control requirements.
• Cessation of one or more of the current orders.
• Extension of coverage to three play areas not previously included.

Feedback is being gathered from anyone using borough public spaces — dog owner, walker, or neither. The stated purpose, per Avery, is to review the approach and reinforce the responsible behaviours the council expects from local dog walkers.

Operational checklist for working walkers

Treat the consultation window as a compliance trigger.

• Cross-reference your full route map against the borough's published PSPO geography. Flag every restricted zone you cross, enter, or schedule client pickups inside.
• Verify lead type, leash length, and muzzle protocol for each zone. PSPO conditions vary by area and are not uniform across the borough.
• Document your standard control method — verbal recall timing, maximum dogs per handler, minimum separation distance from other users — so any enforcement stop can be answered with verifiable procedure, not improvisation.
• For routes touching the three play areas under proposed extension, prepare an alternative path now, before any new designation takes effect.
• Submit a response through the council's consultation channel. The order is enforceable against the handler, not the dog; professional liability follows the walker.