NEW rules have been introduced for west Cheshire dog owners in a bid to streamline regulations across the borough.

The Cheshire West and Chester Council dog control order follows changes to anti-social, crime and policing legislation, and brings together various bye-laws and orders that already existed in different areas.

As of Saturday, October 20, dogs are no longer allowed in enclosed children's play areas containing play equipment, or in multi-use games areas and tennis courts.

Owners must keep their pets on leads – of no longer than two metres – in council cemeteries, in Grosvenor Park in Chester, and under the direction of an authorised officer.

All dog walkers are also now required to carry a means bags, scoops or similar to pick up after their dogs, and the maximum number of dogs to be walked by one person at any one time is capped at six.

Also included will be a trial to offer testing and registration of their dog on a DNA database to people caught not picking up after their pets, as an alternative to a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Delegating the power to issue fines to officers from town and parish councils will also be trialled.

Assistance dogs are exempt from the new exclusion areas and foul collection rule.

In addition to the exclusion of dogs there will also be a prohibition on smoking in enclosed children’s play areas

Temporary signage about the new rules is currently being placed in key locations across the borough and permanent signage will follow later.

CWAC's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Karen Shore, said: “A wide-ranging consultation and review of dog control took place earlier this year because we wanted to find out what action residents thought was needed to keep our communities safe but also balancing the needs of dog owners.

“Based on feedback from the consultation, a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on Dog Control was then drafted.

"The order was approved by the council’s cabinet in September and will come into force on October 20, 2018.”